A 90-year-old man from Harrogate will perform a skydive to help buy wheelchairs at a care home where his wife lives.
Frank Ward’s wife Margie has vascular dementia and lives at Berwick Grange care home on Wetherby Road.
As Mr Ward approached his 90th birthday in November, he decided to mark it by doing something special.
The energy crisis has increased costs at the care home for heating and food and Mr Ward hopes the fundraiser will help it buy some much-needed wheelchairs for residents.
He is especially looking forward to the jump because the last time he did a skydive was in the 1950s during National Service.
Mr Ward said:
“It occurred to me that a skydive would be a nice thing to do to mark my 90th — and I could try and do some good at the same time.
“I’ve raised over £1,500 so far, that’s marvellous and will buy a lot of wheelchairs.
“If I get to 95 I might do another one!”
To donate, visit the JustGiving page.
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Knaresborough daredevil, 70, performs 50th skydive
Knaresborough woman Helen Westmancoat, 70, has performed her 50th skydive, this time raising over £1,200 for Martin House children’s hospice.
Ms Westmancoat is well-known for her skydiving and fundraising efforts, and the Knaresborough Rotarian performed her latest jump from 15,000 feet with Harrogate Brigantes Rotarian David Billington.
The money the pair raised is enough to pay for six months’ worth of parent support, four sessions of bereavement counselling and a visit from bereavement counsellors offering support through the most difficult of times.
Her 50th jump was postponed several times to covid and unfavourable weather conditions but she finally made the dive this year, landing at Hibaldstow in Lincolnshire.
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Chris Verney, regional fundraiser for Martin House, said:
“What an amazing impact for those families who need it. We are truly grateful for Helen and David’s support in taking on this challenge, and I am so glad that Helen finally got to do her 50th jump. Congratulations on reaching this milestone!”
Ms Westmancoat told the Stray Ferret last year how her unusual hobby began.
She said:
Ripon student is taking to the skies for charity“The diving started in 2011 when I worked at York St John’s and there was a call to do a dive for the student support charity. I can’t do it alone in this country now as I’m over the age limit that it allows but I do hope to do more maybe abroad in the future.”
A Ripon Grammar School student is planning to jump out of a plane at 10,000ft to raise money for a teenage suicide prevention charity.
Robyn Munday, who will complete the skydive on July 10, said:
“This is not something I would do without good reason.
“I have struggled with my mental health in my teenage years but have family and friends around me who are patient, compassionate, understanding, and loving – which has been just what I needed.
“However, not every young person is so lucky.”
The 17-year-old has set a fundraising target of £750 and is already more than half way there. She is covering the cost of the skydive herself.
The money will go to Papyrus, which is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.
It provides confidential support and advice to young people through its helpline – Hopeline UK – and runs training programmes to teach suicide prevention skills to staff at schools, healthcare providers and local councils.
In 2017, more than 338,000 young people were referred to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), but fewer than a third received treatment within a year, according to the Local Government Association.
Robyn is a sixth-form student at Ripon Grammar School
Robyn added:
“This can leave young people feeling despondent and lonely, and ultimately let down and not cared about. That’s why I would like to do something to help those young people who don’t get the help they need.
“I’ve chosen to support the charity Papyrus, and so I’m doing this crazy skydive to help raise much-needed funds for them.
“I want to help ensure that more young people are able to talk and receive the help they deserve.”
To donate, visit Robyn’s JustGiving page and for more information about the charity visit papyrus-uk.org.
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