A DARWEN pensioner is set to abseil down Britain’s tallest sculpture in support of the British Red Cross.

Daredevil Ralph Ellis, who is almost blind, will be the first person from Lancashire to take on the challenge at The ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London.

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The 68-year-old, of Ambleside Drive, who suffers from angina and has already survived a heart attack, will scale the 376ft landmark for a fundraiser on May 17.

The £22.7m steel sculpture, which was commissioned by London Mayor Boris Johnson and designed by Turner-Prize winning artist Sir Anish Kapoor, is Britain’s largest piece of public art.

Initially designed for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the observation tower closed after the event but re-opened in April last year.

Mr Ellis, who has volunteered for the humanitarian organisation for 28 years, said the chance to to get a view of some of the capital’s top landmarks, including The Shard, The Gherkin, Big Ben, Canary Wharf, St Paul’s Cathedral and Wembley Stadium, was too good to miss.

Encouraging others to get involved, he said: “I set myself a new challenge every year. Last year I swam the Great North Swim and this year I am going to abseil down this iconic structure. I am really looking forward to it and more importantly the money raised will help people when they need it most, both in the UK and overseas. I am not in the best health and if I can do it, I am sure you can too.”

Mr Ellis, a retired construction manager with four grandchildren, has to walk with a white stick, has one glass eye, and has limited vision in the other.

The former Darwen Snorkelling Club leader raised £500 with his swim last year and has a target of at least £250 this time.

Alison Whittaker-Stewart, senior community fundraiser at the British Red Cross, said: “Ralph is the first person in Lancashire to sign up for this Red Cross challenge, so if you want to do something amazing in 2015, why not join him?”

To sign up for the abseil, visit www.redcross.org.uk/orbitabseil or contact the charity’s events team on 0844 412 2877.