Mandurah's Adrenaline junkies to take the leap off Dawesville Bridge for charity

The Dawesville Bridge swing event, which is organised by the not-for-profit Urban Descent, has been two years in the making and will become a WA-first. 

The initiative hopes to raise funds for not-for-profit organisations Cancer Council WA, RSPCA, Red Nose, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group.

In the lead up to the event, local adrenaline junkies eager to take part in the swing, will be able to sign up online, pay a registration fee and start fundraising towards one of the organisations from the list.

Between December 8 and 10, participants who have reached the $750 fundraising target will be able to get into a full body industrial harness, get strapped to a rope system and step off the bridge for a big adrenaline kick.

Once the swing is over, the participants will be lowered down to a watercraft and taken ashore.

Urban Descent has already run four very successful bridge swings off Queensland’s Goodwin Bridge. 

They are also the mastermind behind Perth’s annual QV1 abseil, several building abseils in Sydney and Australia’s first urban flying fox for novices.

The company, which was created by former SAS soldier Terry Hewett, has held more than 20 events Australia-wide and has raised more than $8 million.

Urban Descent’s Rob Vickers said the Dawesville Bridge swing was fully backed by both the state and local governments and had all the necessary approvals in place.

He encouraged residents to get behind the initiative, even if it was only to donate to the cause.

“It’s a phenomenal thing that it’s absolutely brilliant to be a part of,” he said.

“If they are not up for the swing themselves, jump on board and donate to some of the participants that are having a go so the money still goes through to the charities.

“Ultimately this is about those charities receiving as much money as they can.”

He said Urban Descent was also teaming up with local businesses to boost Mandurah’s economy and talking to local residents to get volunteer organisations on board.

“We’re sort of putting a bit of a focus to the participants about that once they finish with us they can go in and support the local businesses,” he said.

“We are supporting local community groups as well, we’ve got the potential for volunteer marine rescue to come on board with the water support and things like that.”

Mr Vickers said the three-day event would allow 350 people to take the swing and attract 2000 visitors to the area.

With more than 15 participants already registered for the swing, he said the company was hoping to transform the initiative into an annual event.

“I want to be turning people away from this one and saying sign up for next year’s,” he said.

The event is open to anyone over the age of 14, including people who suffer from mobility issues and are wheelchair-bound – however, they would need to get clearance from their doctor. 

For more information and to register for the swing visit the event’s website.