SHIRLEY BALLAS FLYS 120MPH ON WORLD’S FASTEST ZIP LINE AS PART OF FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION CHARITY CALM

• Early this morning, TV personality and Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) ambassador Shirley Ballas flew 120MPH on the world’s fastest zip line to raise vital funds for CALM
• This is the first challenge Shirley has completed as part of her Skyathlon and she will continue conquering her fear of heights throughout the week with a 700ft wing walk on Thursday 10^th Aug and a 13,000ft skydive on Saturday 12^th Aug
• Following the challenge, Shirley has surpassed her initial fundraising goal of £20k and has now raised the bar to £30k to raise more funds for the life saving charity
• To donate to Shirley’s Skyathlon head to https://www.thecalmzone.net/skyathlon

London, 8 August 2023: TV Star and Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) ambassador Shirley Ballas has kicked off her Skyathlon challenge on the world’s fastest zipwire, flying at 120mph across Penryn Quarry in North Wales.

At 7.45AM this morning, the Strictly Come Dancing star arrived at Zip World in North Wales feeling very nervous, before taking to the Snowdon range and zip wiring 500m over the bright blue quarry lake to raise funds for the suicide prevention charity.

Once Shirley’s feet were firmly placed back on Welsh land, she beamed through the doors ecstatic that she’d completed the first challenge of her Skyathlon.

Shirley exclaimed: “One challenge down and two more challenges to go! Please donate, get along with me this week, be there for me, and I will be doing this for your loved ones and my loved ones.”

Shirley Ballas has swapped her dancing shoes for wings for one week only, to face her fear of heights. On Thursday 10^th August, Shirley will take on a 700ft wing walk and on 12^th August an epic 13,000ft skydive awaits – all to help CALM be there for more people who are struggling with life and stop more lives being lost to suicide.

Shirley, who sadly lost her brother and more recently, a good friend to suicide, is calling on people to stand with her and support CALM’s life-saving services who receive a call for help every 59 seconds.  People across the country are already getting behind Shirley by donating and sharing their stories of loss and grief on Shirley’s Just Giving page.
Supporter Pat Foster said: “I lost my grandson to suicide. There’s not a day goes by when I don’t think of him. Well done you.”

Another supporter, Meredith Small posted: “You amaze and inspire me, Shirley. For all those people who don’t yet realise what this will mean in their crisis moment… Thank you!”

Help CALM continue to be there by donating today: https://www.thecalmzone.net/skyathlon

What your donation can help fund:

£8 – could help answer a life-saving call

£24 – could provide four families with suicide bereavement support materials

£50 – could pay for the digital licences, equipment and technology for a worker to receive potential lifesaving calls for three days

£80 – could provide a helpline worker with a month of professional support for their own wellbeing and development

£270 – could enable CALM to create information guides

If you or someone you know is struggling head to www.thecalmzone.net for practical support and advice.