Fundraisers take the plunge for charity

Mar 5 2007 By James Cartledge, Birmingham Mail

SCORES of people threw themselves from the top of Villa's famous Holte End - but not over the club's playing fortunes.

Around 80 people took the plunge from the top of the stand in an effort to raise cash for charity by dangling from a rope in a charity abseil.

Among the brave was pub landlord Bob Roe who went from dumpy to daredevil when he celebrated losing 12 stone of flab by plunging 90ft.

The dad-of-five clambered down a rope suspended from the top of Villa Park's giant Holte End stand.

Despite still tipping the scales at 20 stone, Bob's nerve wracking feat raised more than £200 for Kidney Research UK.

He said his next challenge is to complete a skydive to raise more cash for good causes.

"It was brilliant," he said. "It feels great being able to do things like this because of all the weight I have lost and the extra energy I now have.

"There are a lot of big people out there who think they cannot do things like this but losing the weight has made all the difference in the world to me."

Bob, who runs The Radley Arms, in Sheldon Heath Road, Sheldon, was 32 stone when he had a band fitted around his stomach to stop him eating huge portions of food.

The 6ft 1in 48-year-old, married to wife Gina, 50, wants to lose another three stone.

Cheered on by pub regulars and his 33-year-old daughter, Amanda, Bob overcame his nerves to complete the descent.

Around 80 people took part in the Kidney Research UK fundraiser, raising at least £100 each.