A CHARITY that helps victims of sex crimes reached new heights as supporters abseiled down an Oxford church tower in its biggest-ever fundraising event.

More than £5,000 was raised for Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre with its first abseil down St Mary Magdalen Church’s tower on Saturday.

The charity said it was raising money and awareness as its service was now more in demand than ever.

More than 20 people took part, including Merton College history student Naomi Gardom.

The 19-year-old, who has just moved to Oxford from Cambridge, said: “It was a great day and the views, despite the rain, were stunning. I had done some abseiling at a rock-climbing centre once before but this was quite different.

“The centre does amazing and important work, that’s really admirable.”

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She was joined by Student Hubs network director Laura Steele, 25, of Botley Road, who said: “It was a bit nerve-racking so I didn’t really spend much time looking at the view. But it was a great opportunity to fundraise for a good cause and we hope that doing the event in the centre of the city helped to raise awareness.”

Acting service manager Lisa Ward said it cost at least £120,000 to run the centre each year and £500 could train a volunteer. She added: “We have done community-based fundraising before, but nothing on this scale.”

The Rev Peter Groves said his church was an appropriate place for the event as its patron saint was associated with abused women.

And he said he hoped the abseil would become an annual event.

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