Last year, Eileen signed up for Glasgow City Mission’s Zip Slide the Clyde to take on a meaningful challenge. While she was not typically drawn to thrill seeking activities on her average Friday morning, Eileen understood that this was the point. Anyone who knew her recognised that conquering the zip slide would represent a true personal achievement. She hoped this would offer her an unforgettable experience, while helping her to raise as much money as possible for Glasgow City Mission; a charity close to her heart.
Eileen was introduced to the Mission when she tried out volunteering at our City Centre project. Two years on, Eileen has become an integral member of our team, generously giving her time every week at our Drop-ins and our Women’s Group. Through meeting our guests and taking part in the work we do, she understands the importance of funding for Glasgow City Mission to create positive lasting change for vulnerable members of our community. Eileen was thrilled that her sponsored zip slide raised over £2,000 to make that change possible. She achieved the second highest fundraising total out of all participants!
Eileen signed up for the zip slide to support the future of individuals she has met at the Mission over the last two years. At our Drop-in meals, Eileen chats and eats with guests experiencing homelessness, addiction and poverty. Volunteering allows her to build relationships with people she meets, alleviate their isolation and connect them with wider, specialist support within the Mission such as our Women’s Group. Eileen enjoys getting to know the women who come to this group, and assisting them along their journey of healing from trauma to moving forward with their lives.
The day of the zip slide itself was nerve-wracking but exciting, Eileen told me. Gathering her friends and family to cheer her on made the day even more special. While the journey up to the top of the zip slide was daunting, the exhilarating trip down made it all worthwhile. Photos of Eileen speeding along the Clyde will be treasured by herself and her loved ones forever, serving as a permanent reminder of her achievement. The personal challenge of the zip slide, combined with the vital importance of funds she has raised, has gifted Eileen with a sense of pride that she hopes others will experience this year.
Would you like to support marginalized individuals of Glasgow and make memories that last a lifetime? Sign up for Glasgow City Mission’s 2025 Zip Slide the Clyde here: Zip Slide the Clyde 2025 | Glasgow City Mission
