Race to top of Birmingham’s tallest building raises £5,000 for hospice

Paradise Birmingham and its development partners have raised £5,104 for Acorns Children’s Hospice.

During last autumn’s topping out event, 15 teams from the building’s development, design and construction partners provided more than 80 runners who all raced up the 888 steps to the top of the 155-metre tall, 49-storey skyscraper.

The world’s tallest pure octagonal residential tower and Birmingham’s tallest building, The Octagon is due to open to residents later this summer.

As well as raising £5,104 for Acorns, last year’s topping out celebrations were extensively featured on local broadcast, print and online media outlets. 

Local architecture practice and designers of The Octagon, Howells, swept the board with the fastest team, fastest female with Evie Richardson who came in with a time of seven minutes and 12 seconds, and fastest male, Jamie Parish, who completed the climb in five minutes and seven seconds.

Every entrant completed the challenge, with all 80 runners reaching the top of the building safely.

City Developments Ltd, Midgard, MEPC, Howells, Turley, Arup, Quantem, JRL Ark, SOM, OFR, Design MEP, Thompson AV, D Line, Spray Plaster Specialists Ltd and Flick Lighting all contributed to the final amount as well as individual donations made during the event.

Andy Bushell, development manager at Paradise developer and asset manager MEPC, said: “The Vertical Mile was a highly successful part of last year’s ‘topping out’ that not only allowed many teams to run to the top of Birmingham’s tallest building, but also raised more than £5,000 for Acorns in the process.

“The cash will help Acorns to continue providing its brilliant services across the West Midlands region that helps many hundreds of local families every year.”

Vicki Rowles, director of fundraising at Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “We’re extremely grateful to everyone who took part in this historic event – every penny raised will go direct towards our lifeline care for seriously ill children across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

“Not only has the event helped ensure we can be there for families when they need us most, it has highlighted the towering challenges that families caring for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions face every day.

“But with the help of supporters like Paradise Birmingham and its development partners, we can make sure families never face those challenges alone. From everyone at Acorns, thank you!” 

Further information and live progress on The Octagon and other aspects of Paradise can be viewed on the website.

Pictured (L-R): Neil McGinty (CDL), Andy Bushell (MEPC), Emma Harewood (Acorns) and Sharon Bhambra (MEPC)