A charity challenge abseil to raise funds for the Lollipop Appeal and the walk to school charity Kent and Medway Walking Bus raised more than £4,000 on Saturday.

This was the first event promoted by KM Walking Bus in Dartford and attracted 32 participants and the first to incorporate a new feature called Over the Edge which 'forced' high profile members of the community to take part.

Over the Edge worked with the public making a donation online via a JustGiving page. The more donated the more of our reluctant candidates would have to take part.

John Stanley, head teacher at St John's Secondary School, Gravesend, Howard Stoate MP for Dartford and DCI Julia Chapman of North Kent Police were signed up to get involved. Although the public did not embrace this aspect of the fund-raising it was a successful way to promote the event. All three candidates went over the edge before the public, some more reluctantly than others. The JustGiving page is still available for readers to make a donation to.

The abseil was sponsored by Specsavers, Fig Hair and LandSecurities. Birthday girl Sharon Kennedy, 34, of Swanley, conquered her fear of heights to take part as a way to thank Darent Valley Hospital for caring for 19-month-old daughter Rose, who was cared for in Willow Ward six weeks ago after developing breathing problems.

Pauline Beach from Gravesend dressed as a clown for the abseil and raised £115 for charity.

Of the £4,000 raised from the event seventy per cent will go to the Lolipop Appeal and 30 per cent to KM Walking Bus.

KM Walking Bus stages Kent Charity Challenge events around the county for itself and a number of other charities nominated by the KM Group. Go to www.kentcharitychallenge.co.uk to view events currently being promoted and apply for your free event pack.