A HEART-THUMPING experience has helped a dedicated fundraiser to break the £30,000 barrier.

Catherine Alexander braved the world’s fastest zipline to raise even more money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

As well as reaching speeds of more than 100mph, Catherine, along with Gary Kerr, Jenn Ainslie Scott and Sabine Aitken, raised £2,230.

Catherine said: “It is 0-60mph in 10 seconds and then even faster.

“We clocked 102mph and they said the maximum speed is 118mph.

“It is about a 90-minute experience from when you start until you finish but it is like five minutes on the zipline.

“It was excellent and the weather was so good; it makes a difference in the sunshine.”

The quartet travelled from East Lothian to the Penrhyn Quarry in north Wales to take on Velocity 2 on August 23.

Catherine, who runs Short Cuts, off Haddington’s Market Street, described arriving at the quarry and the scale of what lay ahead.

She said: “You arrive at the car park and you look up and see a little, tiny speck up the top of the hill and think that’s where you are going!”

Catherine, Gary, Jenn and Sabine were strapped into the four parallel ziplines before racing down the 1.5-kilometre line.

And Catherine was pleased to say that she came out on top in the race to the bottom!

The zipwire experience raised enough for Catherine to smash the £30,000 marker.

Ahead of the latest fundraiser, the 48-year-old had been blown away by the continued support from people in the town.

She said: “We were absolutely overwhelmed by the support in Haddington.

“One lady came in, she does not come to the salon, and I did not know her.

“She said: ‘I’ve just seen the article in the Courier, here’s £5… but I think you’re mad!’

“It’s just things like that which are really touching.”

Catherine, of the town’s Chalybeate, is no stranger to fundraising events for the charity, which offers free, confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones.

Over the past 10 years, she has abseiled from the Forth Bridge, had her head shaved and braved the waters of the Forth.

Along the way, she has served up dozens of tasty cakes at an annual coffee morning.

The next Macmillan coffee morning takes place from 9am on September 25 outside the business.

Pauline Macmillan, senior relationship fundraising manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Catherine is a fundraising hero.

“She’s done so much for Macmillan and the amount she has raised is staggering.

“We can’t thank her enough for raising such vital funds for us and for all the different challenges she’s taken part in – there really is no stopping her.

“Macmillan is working tirelessly to do whatever it takes for people with cancer at a time when disruption caused by Covid-19 means demand for the charity’s services is high, while its income is down.

“So, funds raised by supporters like Catherine, have never been so important. Thanks Catherine – you are simply amazing.”