WHEN you’ve abseiled off an air traffic control tower in Basra in the middle of the Iraq War, anything else is eminently do-able!
Steve Winstanley, from Crossgates, has also completed tours of duty in Afghanistan so stepping off the side of the Forth Bridge was going to "be a breeze" in comparison.
The 71-year-old former RAF reservist and retired meteorologist was one of 600 daredevils to complete an abseil on Sunday to raise money for Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland.
Steve took the plunge in memory of his late mum Gladys, who had a stroke when she was 90.
He said: "My wife saw the advert for the abseil and it made perfect sense to take part.
Steve Winstanley, from Crossgates, after abseiling 165 feet from the Forth Bridge. (Image: Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland)
"Not only have I seen first hand the effects of stroke on someone close to me, I also play walking football, and Walking Football Scotland is now affiliated with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.
"It all just chimed with me.”
READ MORE: Former PM praises charity helping West Fife families
Participants took part in groups throughout the day, abseiling 165 feet from one of Scotland’s best loved landmarks, and a UNESCO World Heritage site, down to the sandy beach below whilst raising much needed funds for CHSS and other partner charities.
A daunting task but Steve has faced up to his fair share of danger.
Steve Winstanley abseiling off an air traffic control tower in Basra, Iraq, in 2003. (Image: Steve Winstanley)
As an RAF reservist he completed several tours of duty in war-torn Iraq in 2003, and decided with his mates to abseil off a military air traffic control tower in British-controlled Basra, before undertaking several tours of Afghanistan with the reserve forces between 2003 and 2008.
The first Forth Bridge Abseil was in 2003 and it's run by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, in partnership with Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, and this was the first event since 2019.
This year it raised more than £100,000.
Steve was actually in Aberdeen and on the phone to his mum, who was living down south, when she had a stroke.
After dialling 999, he realised emergency services couldn’t respond to a call from Scotland for a health crisis in England, and it was only after he managed to call Gladys’ neighbour that an ambulance crew arrived.
Steve recalled: “Mum recovered, but she lost her speech and had real trouble communicating.
"What happened to her is a big motivation, but I also play golf with several people who have also had strokes.
"You only have to speak to one person to realise how many people are affected by conditions like chest, heart and stroke, and I emphasised that to people when I've been collecting for the abseil - we all know someone.
“I initially set a target of £500, but I'm now past the £1,000 mark. Like everyone in Fife, I’ve crossed the bridge many times, but dropping off it is a totally new experience.”
Karen Smith, from Rosyth, also took the leap of faith on Sunday after her husband, Craig, had a stroke.
So far she's raised a whopping £1,700 and said: "Fantastic experience and would recommend if you get the chance - do it!"
Jayne Forbes, assistant director of fundraising at CHSS, said: “We’ve seen people of all ages, groups of friends, families, and colleagues get together to do something amazing today.
"We’re so grateful to all those fundraising for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland who are supporting us to ensure there is no life half lived in Scotland. They are true fundraising heroes.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here