C-FAR trainee Darren Wakefield fulfilled a personal ambition when he spearheaded a leap off the roof of the Plymouth Civic Centre for charity on Sunday.
Last December Darren — who is at the Highampton-based Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation — lost his father from cancer whilst he himself was serving a two-year sentence in prison.
Last Sunday the C-FAR team of 14 abseiled down the building to raise money for Cancer Research.
The event was Darren's idea as part of his community project.
In a letter to Plymouth City Council requesting permission to abseil down the building, Darren, who is from Plymouth, explained why he wanted to help raise money for Cancer Research.
'I have now become interested in the work of Cancer Research and would like to raise some money so other people don't have to go through what my father went through.'
Press spokesman Richard White said: 'Part of the trainees' programme is to encourage them to do a committee project.
'He wanted to raise funds for Cancer Research because of his father. He approached people with the tallest buildings and got the Civic Centre,' said Mr White.
'He got in touch with Cancer Research and negotiated with them. Darren has driven the whole project. The benefit to him is that he is doing something for his dad — and that is also benefiting the community. That is holistic.'
All those who took part are former persistent offenders — some from the age of 16 — who are undertaking a 'life change' course of study and instruction at C-FAR.
Press spokesman Richard White said: 'As part of this course, trainees are encouraged to take an active part in helping the community.
'This is a community from which they have been excluded because of their criminal activities — but a community into which they now wish to return.'
He said before coming to C-FAR, trainees have served sentences in prisons such as Dartmoor, Exeter, Portland, Bristol, Winchester and Elmlea.