After climbing 30 feet to a ledge on a rock climbing wall, this former conference manager for the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Claire Stuffins froze.

With our photographer, Akil Simmons, stationed on the ledge for the photo, nervously looking down, Brian Caldwell, a rock climbing instructor at the Olympic Club, sprang into action. Mr. Caldwell spent 20 minutes on the wall talking to a clearly panicked Ms Stuffins before she trusted the rope and decided courageously to place one foot after the other and abseil down.

What Ms Stuffins was overcoming, however, was more than the 30 foot wall, but also a fear of heights that makes her hands shake when she just looks at the wall. On Sunday, however, she will have to take an even greater leap of faith as she attempts to scale down the 80 feet of St. David’s Head cliff for charity.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette before and after her climb yesterday, she said: “Last week was the first time I had been up the rock climbing wall at the Olympic Club. I barely even got up the stairs to access the wall so it is a huge improvement this week being able to climb up to the ledge.

“I have a huge fear of heights, but I wanted to be an example for the kids who will be doing this as well as to challenge myself.”

The kids are the few select youth in Bermuda who are considered at-risk and are given the chance to participate on Raleigh International’s trips to Namibia and Malaysia.

A group of Bermudian students who will go to Malaysia beginning in July and a second which will be in Namibia at the same time, will help in impoverished communities as part of recognising their potential.

Ms Stuffins was unable to raise enough funds to join them in July, however, the $4,000 she hopes to raise Sunday will help her be a Team Leader in Malaysia for Raleigh in September. And rather than a charity walk to raise funds, Ms Stuffins felt she should incorporate part of the intensive training course that all of the Bermudian students must go through before going abroad. The training commences with a one-week training camp on Paget Island, a five-day survival camp at Spittal Pond, a training camp with the Bermuda Regiment and an abseil down St. David’s Head.

Mr. Caldwell, who works on the Olympic Club rock-climbing wall, also helps with the training the students who go away on the Raleigh trips, said there are usually numerous tears.

“We have been helping Raleigh with their team building for the past two years. There are always some tears and swearing they won’t go down the cliff, but you have to stay calm and talk them through.

“This is the first time we’ve worked with one of the adult leaders. Claire has come a long way.

“Last week she only went up two times and this is the first time she’s been on the ledge.

“We just have to always say you haven’t come this far to stop now.” And it was these words, that an hour after starting her climb up the Olympic Club rock climbing wall convinced her to ease herself down 30 feet to the relief of our photographer.

However, to prepare, raise awareness and donations, for Raleigh, Ms Stuffins will have to take an even greater leap of faith to make it down the 80 foot Cliff face of St. David’s Head at 11 a.m on Sunday.

Ms Stuffins added: “I am trying to raise at least $4,000 to go towards Raleigh International, but any additional funds will be split between Raleigh International and Raleigh Bermuda.

“Please help me support this good cause.”

Support can come in a multiple forms-either donate or come to the cliff face on Sunday morning to cheer her on. If you are interested in donating she has set-up an account at the Bank of Bermuda HSBC.The account is:CLAIRE STUFFINS DBA RALEIGH INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL PROJECT and the number is: 010-751444-001.For further information call Claire at 504-8833.