Cliff descent gives Tanya fund a big lift

From the archive, first published Monday 19th Sep 2005.

A sponsored abseil helped launch a scholarship fund in memory of an outdoor pursuits instructor killed in a freak accident.

About 50 friends, relatives and colleagues of 41-year-old Tanya Bocking inched their way down 120ft cliffs at Peacehaven Heights yesterday.

The abseil, held amid warm sunshine, has raised £2,000 so far for the Tanya Bocking Fund to give the scheme an initial lift.

Tanya, operations manager at Brighton-based outdoor education charity Adventure Unlimited, died when her helmet strap asphyxiated her on a zip wire at Blackland Farm in Grinstead Lane, East Grinstead.

Tanya, of Belle Vue Cottages, Brighton, was preparing the wire before a teaching session in December 2003 when it is believed she zipped down by accident.

Since the tragedy, her family and friends have sought a lasting tribute and came up with the Tanya Fund to act as a memorial.

Her brother Nat, who took part in yesterday's abseil, said: "The concept of doing this abseil was very much in keeping with Tanya.

"The £2,000 raised today was well above our expectations and is the equivalent of raising a whole year's worth of funding in one event."

The Tanya Fund has been created to support people, particularly women, who have chosen a career in outdoor education but who face barriers such as low income. It will pay for training and qualification courses.

The fund aims to raise £5,000 each year from gifts and donations and expects to make five or six grants every year of up to £1,000 each.

The amount will depend on the quantity and quality of applications received.

The fund will be administered by Adventure Unlimited and decisions will be made by a panel of independent trustees, Tanya's family and friends.

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