Perth Voice Interactive

JAMES CHESTERS will soon be stepping off Perth’s tallest building.

But fear not that he’s asking for death.

He’ll have a harness, helmet and the support of dozens of others who next month abseil down the CBD’s Central Park building for charity.

The Voice met with the Mt Hawthorn man on the roof this week to test out his vertigo, seeing as he hadn’t yet seen the view from the 54-storey, 220m-tall building.

Landmarks 30km away are easily seen at the top, as well as the slight curve of the earth’s surface.

“Aw wow, it feels much higher up here,” Mr Chesters, 34, says, gazing at the distant Perth hills.

Like an icy hand sliding up one’s back, pushing, wind ushers Mr Chesters to a meagre, hip-high wall—the only barrier between him and a clean, unforgiving drop.

The wind speed is bang on 7kmh—it’s displayed on a digital meter near a door to the roof because being up there when speeds are higher than 30kph is too dangerous.

The Voice’s building guide, Greg, says workers on floors upwards of 40 felt the building slightly sway a few years ago—as it’s designed to do—when winds reached upwards of 150kph.

Not even that story will scare off Mr Chesters.

He’s abseiling the building for the charity Kids’ Camp, which offers a fun retreat for children with disabilities.

“It’s more than just unfortunate that not everyone in life has the same opportunities, it’s also heart-breaking,” Mr Chesters, who’s raised $1000, says.

“Kids’ Camps make a real difference. They give children the opportunity for personal growth, enjoyment…and development of new life skills. These are all things that many of us don’t even notice in our own day-to day lives, but can mean the whole world to these kids.”

He joins 300 other participants at the Central Park Plunge charity event, which runs from August 7-9.

Mr Chesters is abseiling down on the last day. Organisers at Zenith Events expect to raise a collective total of $350,000 for Ronald McDonald House, Fiona Wood Foundation, Anglicare WA and Kids’ Camp.

The tallest building in the world is Dubai’s Burj Khalifa at 829m.

To donate to Mr Chesters’ cause, go to https://centralparkplungekidscamp2015.everydayhero.com/au/jaychesters

by EMMIE DOWLING