ABSEILERS braved the rain and mud to descend a 100ft wall at Northwick Park Hospital to raise £14,000 for a Harrow hospice.

Nearly 100 volunteers navigated the drop on Saturday in aid of St Luke's Hospice, including 74-year-old cancer survivor Joan Hope and 10-year-old Zain Habib.

Pam Russell, director of fundraising at the hospice, said: “We were tremendously grateful to the 99 people who braved the rain, the mud, and the 100ft wall for St Luke’s.

“There was a great spirit among all of the participants who encouraged and supported each other, and the volunteers who kept peoples spirits up with lots of hot tea and cake.

“Rather than deterring people, the mud seemed to add an extra sense of hilarity to the day!”

The money raised will pay three months' worth for drugs and treatment for patients at the hospice, which cares for people with terminal cancer and other serious diseases.