Wheelchair-user Jason to abseil from Humber Bridge for charity
ABSEILING OFF the Humber Bridge is not a feat many would dare to brave, but for Jason Liversidge, it is the latest in a line of daring stunts he has completed to raise awareness of the condition that has virtually paralysed him.
The father-of-two, from Rise in the East Riding, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease four years ago and is now confined to a wheelchair and is close to losing the power of speech.
On Sunday, after securing permission from the Humber Bridge Board, he, alongside wife Liz and firefighter Paul Burchett, who has helped to ensure his voice will still be heard after his speech fails, will undertake the challenging abseil in the hope of raising £3,000 for charity.
The money will be divided between the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Fire Fighter’s Charity, after Mr Burchett and his colleagues at Bridlington Fire Station took part in an innovative research project that merged their voices with a recording of Mr Liversidge’s to create a unique Yorkshire accent for when he has to rely on a computer voice synthesizer full time.
Mrs Liversidge said: “We’ve been very lucky we’ve been able to take part in the project, and the firefighters in Bridlington were instrumental in Jason being able to retain his distinct Yorkshire accent.”
A family fun day will take place at the abseil site, on the Hessle Foreshore close to the Country Park pub on Cliff Road, from 10.30am on Sunday.