The team of 10 from Turners Soham (Bicker depot) completed the skydive in a bid to fund mental health support for children with brain tumours, as well as their families, through the Cambridge-based charity Tom’s Trust.
Tom’s Trust operates from hospitals throughout the country, supporting families following a devastating brain tumour diagnosis, including Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.
The team, who took to the skies from Peterborough on Sunday 28 May, have raised nearly £6,000 - enough to help five families for the next year.
Ashley English, Warehouse Supervisor, said: “As a company we have supported Tom's Trust for a while. I was reading a bulletin about when Tom’s Trust’s Young Ambassador Mimi visited our Soham depot. I then read Tom's story on the website and it really was so emotional - what an incredible young boy whose life was taken way too soon. This inspired me to organise something so that Bicker depot could do our bit too
“Myself and the rest of the jumpers have young children of our own or in the family and what Tom's Trust does is incredible. We all pray for healthy lives for ourselves and our children but life can be cruel and a lot of treatment for these children, mentally and physically, is relied on by charity donations.
“I came up with the idea of a skydive and ran it past a few people on site. Before I knew it we had the foundations in place. Raising the money has been hard work but now the results have really paid off. I said to myself if we can raise enough to help one child and get some support for them and their family then it's all worth it. It was the most surreal experience, really incredible. I hope I have started something that Bicker Depot can continue and look forward to future ventures to keep our relationship with Tom's Trust and help as many people as we can. We would like to thank everyone who helped support and suppliers/businesses that donated to our raffle.”
Debs Mitchell, Co-Founder of Tom’s Trust, said: “We are so grateful to our wonderful corporate supporters from Turners for taking up something so enormous for us. We know what a huge challenge this was for the team. The money raised will make a huge difference to the lives of children facing a life-changing brain tumour diagnosis across the UK.”
You can still donate to the team by visiting www.justgiving.com/team/turnersskydive
If you would like to take up an adrenaline-fuelled experience to raise money for Tom’s Trust, get in touch with Jess Wilde, Corporate and Community Fundraising Manager, on jessica@tomstrust.org.uk
To find out more about Tom’s Trust go to www.tomstrust.org.uk
