A team of daredevil supporters took fundraising for Greenfingers to dizzying heights last weekend as they undertook a parachute jump for the charity to raise money for a garden at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in Sheffield.
Nine intrepid jumpers took on the challenge on Saturday 26th September, with perfect sunny and clear weather conditions, at the Army Parachute Association’s headquarters in Netheravon, Wiltshire. The brave jumpers were Grace Meehan, a buyer for Homebase; Phillippa Stubbs from the British Garden Centre Group; Millie Quinton-Smith; Lulu Wijayasekara; Oli Boggis; James Dickson and the father, mother and daughter team of Simon, Angie and Ollie Tuck.
The challenge was inspired by LOFA’s Phil Gibbs, who is a keen skydiver, and was on hand on the day to give the jumpers extra support and encouragement, along with other supporters including Simon and Caroline Quinton-Smith and Spencer Goodall.
The event has raised £4,500 so far – a figure that is expected to rise – with Grace Meehan raising £1,000, which will be matched by a £400 donation from Homebase. Philippa Stubbs raised an impressive £400 in just three days after signing up for the jump only a few days before.
The money raised from the parachute jump will go directly to Greenfingers planned garden at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in Sheffield, which will be built as part of the charity’s A Million Moments Appeal(1). The hospice has a pressing need for improvement to two garden spaces that will provide reflective and peaceful areas outside the hospice’s end of life suites, offering great comfort to grieving families staying at the hospice.
Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising for Greenfingers, said: “We have all had a brilliant day here in Wiltshire! Thank you to all our brave jumpers, and their family and friends who came to support them. We are very proud of them all for undertaking the challenge with great enthusiasm and excitement and look forward to putting the funds raised to very good use at the Bluebell Wood Hospice bereavement suites.”
There is still time to contribute funds and support the Bluebell Wood garden by sponsoring one of the brave parachute jumpers – Greenfingers own Ollie Tuck – via her Just Giving page – https://www.justgiving.com/Ollie-Tuck1/
The success of this year’s jump has meant that Greenfingers plan to turn the challenge in to an annual event – next year’s parachute jump will take place on 24th September 2016. Anyone who wishes to get involved in the event can register interest now by emailing info@greenfingerscharity.org.uk
