MORE than 60 brave thrill-seekers had a screaming time supporting two Kent charities on Saturday.

The KM Charity Challenge abseil staged at Screaming Alley at the cliffs above Port Ramsgate is expected to raise more than £9,000 for charity.

Proceeds will be divided with 70 per cent to CLIC Sargent and 30 per cent to the children’s road safety charity KM Walk to School.

Led by Thanet Extra newspaper and supported by kmfm radio station and Thanet Council, the event was hailed a great success by both charities.

Many of the participants donned fancy dress for charity and included representatives of schools and parent groups that use walk to school services of Walking Bus, Walk on Wednesday and Walking Bug.

Becky Loftus, a volunteer on the Downs Walking Bus, dressed as Supergirl and a team of 11 parents and staff at St Joseph’s School, Thanet joined in the event as a team challenge.

Michelle Henderson, mother of child cancer victim Reece, dressed in a fat girl outfit, and brought a large number of family members to join her in the abseil challenge.

Carl Lawrence and Demi Henderson dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstone. The pair, from Margate, raised £160.

Peter Elson won a prize for best fancy dress outfit with his happy chappy clown costume. His cousin died from leukaemia making this an emotive challenge for him.

The highest fund-raiser was Antonia Baker who pledged £1,519. Her son is suffering from leukaemia.

The event ran smoothly until Amanda Bowyer started her descent. She got stuck half way down prompting a mountain-style rescue from Mick Jennings of abseil operator Avalon Adventures.

Three members of Whitstable rubgy club took part to thank CLIC Sargent for its support of young rugby player Sky Holness and Shaun King of Linden Grove School, Ashford raised £713 because of CLIC’s support for his 16-year-old daughter Alison King who has leukaemia.

KMFM presenters Danny Williams and Vicki Tyrell joined in the fun having promoted the charity event on their shows and kmfm website. Vicki is part of presenter Louis Hurst’s crew.

Event promoter Simon Dolby thanked Mike Humber and Wendy Morris of Thanet Council for their support of the challenge, George Chittenden for providing barrier fencing and Charlie Potts of the Lookout Cafe.

The KM Walk to School team are planning around 10 KM Charity Challenge events for 2009. Dates will be published on the website www.kmcharitychallenge.co.uk in the coming weeks. More photos from the event can be viewed on the charity challenge website.