A GREAT grandmother aged 89 is to abseil down a 25 metre-high tower for charity along with her son, her grandson and her great-grandson. Ellen Beaven has inspired four generations of her family to join her in the abseil down Huntingdon fire station s dril

A GREAT grandmother aged 89 is to abseil down a 25 metre-high tower for charity along with her son, her grandson and her great-grandson.

Ellen Beaven has inspired four generations of her family to join her in the abseil down Huntingdon fire station's drill tower. The four will raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care in memory of Mrs Beaven's daughter-in-law, Julia, who died of cancer seven years ago, aged 52, leaving three sons.

Mrs Beaven told The Hunts Post: "This is in memory of Julia. There are still several things I want to do before I fall off my perch. I had my first trip in a hot air balloon this year and next year, when I am 90, I want to go on a tandem parachute jump."

She added: "I had never been in a plane before I was 84 but my son took me and my friend on holiday - he took two 84-year-olds to Malta because he thought I needed a break."

Mrs Beaven, who lost her husband to Alzheimer's five years ago, has a son and daughter, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She said she was not even apprehensive about the abseil.

She said: "I'm up for anything that's going. I just said I will wear me brown trousers and not look down."

Mrs Beaven will be joined in the abseil by her son Andy Beaven, 62, a retired police officer, who lives in Somersham, her grandson Chris Beaven, 39 a courier driver, who lives in St Ives, and her great grandson Ross Beaven, aged 15, who is a pupil at Longsands College in St Neots.

Andy added: "It was my mother's idea to do the abseil - but we all want to raise money in memory of my wife, Julia. She was a wonderful wife and mother. When she was ill the Marie

Curie nurses came to our home and it is a very caring and valuable service. They are very understanding and supportive."

Julia Beaven was a contracts manager at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, responsible for the domestic staff and each year, trophies are given to cleaners in her memory by her family.

Marie Curie community fundraiser, Laura Sale, said: "I am thrilled that Mrs Beaven and her family will be joining us on the day. She really is an amazing woman. I have such admiration for her. I hope that Mrs Beaven will inspire others to sign up for the abseil.

We still have places left, we can have up to 80 participants on the day and we hope to raise over £5,000 for the charity".

INFORMATION: The abseil is on Sunday, October 28. All money raised will help support Marie Curie nurses in Cambridgeshire, who care cancer patients in their own homes. This service is free of charge to the patient and their family. Readers can sponsor Mrs Beaven by visiting www.justgiving.com/thebeavenfamily

If you are interested in joining the abseil, it costs £15 to register and participants are asked to raise a minimum of £75 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Full training will be given by the Royal Artillery Mobile Display Team.