Daredevil fundraisers took the plunge at an abseil challenge on Sunday and raised £6,700 for good causes throughout Kent.

Fifty-eight brave souls descended the balcony of the Channel Suite at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone to boost the charity pot for 18 charitable organisations.

The biggest individual fundraiser was Vinca Peterson of Ramsgate who raised £541 for Future Youth Project. Her prize was two tickets to the award-winning Jersey Boys musical in London’s West End plus dinner and a stay at the Cavendish Hotel, Piccadilly, courtesy of Superbreaks.

Abseilers young and old took up the knee-knocking challenge, which was organised by the KM’s charity department and supported by A1 Level Scaffolding and Holiday Extras.

The youngest abseiler was 13 year old Eleanor Duffy from Ramsgate who beat the drop to raise £110 for Future Youth Project. At the other end of the scale sixty-seven year old Gilly Jennings from Ashford took part and raised £80 for Rett UK.

Rett UK was also supported by a large group of people who abseiled to support 10 year old Lucy Woolgar-Orchard of Stowting near Ashford, who suffers from the neurological disorder Rett syndrome.

David Irving from Teynham abseiled with his two daughters Hayley and Amanda to raise £272 for Motor Neurone Disease Association, a cause close to their hearts as Mr Irving himself has the condition.

Double daredevil Holly Hemsley of Canterbury took the plunge twice for two different charities raising £107 for Ashford-based Includes Us 2 and £80 for the East Kent Rape Line.

Wendy Blackman of Sittingbourne abseiled for Breast Cancer Care. Wendy works for the Medway Mail Centre, Rochester and is one of a number of staff due to take part in KM challenge events over the coming months.

Simon Dolby from the KM Charity Team said: "The abseil by the beach was an unforgettable experience for our participants. They were excited to be there and passionate about their chosen causes.”

Good causes that will benefit from the event include Ashford Foodbank, Alzheimer's Society, Folkestone and Hythe Scouts, Includes Us 2 of Ashford, Stroke Association, Victim Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Milly Moo Foundation, National Coastwatch, DK Twirlers of Medway, Kent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Canterbury, Future Youth Project of Thanet, Porchlight, East Kent Rape Line, South East Dog Rescue, Rett UK, Canterbury Sea Cadets and Breast Cancer Research.

Sunday’s fundraising abseilers could also be on their way to winning a limited edition KM Brain and Brawn Triathlon T-shirt and other prizes. To qualify for the KM Brain and Brawn challenge, participants must complete three different KM challenges in the same calendar year.

The challenges include the KM abseils, KM Big Quiz events, KM Dragon Boat Race, KM Big Bike Ride, KM Charity Walk or the new KM Assault Course Challenge. For more details visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk.

Charities and good causes that would like to team up with KM Charity Team to support their fundraising should call Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752.