Abseil at 'Black Box'

The Municipal Offices

Over one hundred people will take part in a sponsored abseil at Rochdale’s Municipal Offices (the Black Box) tomorrow (9 June), in order to raise money for local lad Adam Kutereba, who has cerebral palsy.

The abseil is the latest in a series of events held to help raise money for nine year old Adam, who requires an operation in order to improve his posture, comfort and walking ability.

The sponsored plunge will be the last big event to be held at the offices, known affectionately by locals as the ‘Black Box’. The 230ft building is to be demolished next year and will be replaced by a new building.

Although many people now view the Black Box as an eyesore, it was the height of architecture when it was built in 1977.

The replacement council building, situated on Smith Street, is set to be named Number One Riverside and is due to open later this year.

Those taking part in tomorrow’s abseil include councillors and local people, and Adam himself will be abseiling down the office block at lunchtime.

Rachel Diggle, 28, a PE teacher at Castlebrook High School, is taking part in the jump. She said: “I’m feeling nervous but excited, I’ve never done an abseil from this height before. It’s going to be a bit scary, especially in this weather!”

Adam was born 13 weeks premature and suffered two lung haemorrhages and a brain haemorrhage within the first four days of his life. He was given a 10% chance of survival, and was in hospital for 12 weeks before being well enough to come home.

The brain haemorrhage left Adam with Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy, which affects both his legs and his right arm. Adam cannot stand unaided and when not in his wheelchair he crawls to get around.

Adam’s Fund hopes to raise £70,000 in order to fly Adam to America for a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy operation, which would greatly benefit his posture, comfort and walking ability. This amount would cover the cost of the surgery as well as post-op care, physiotherapy and equipment.

The current total sits at £64,000, so a few more final pushes would enable the fund to reach its target.

Rachel Kutereba, Adam’s mother, said: “When we set out to raise money we never imagined we’d make it so far so quickly. We set up the fund in January and over just five and a half months £64,000 has been raised. It’s amazing how the whole community has come together.”

Tomorrow’s event starts at 9am and finishes at 6pm. You can donate to Adam’s fund here: http://www.justgiving.com/AdamKuterebaSDRfund