An event-full weekend saw Phyllis Tuckwell’s supporters take to the skies to raise money for hospice care!
The fundraising kicked off on Saturday 30th Sept, when nine plucky skydivers set off for the UK’s largest skydiving drop zone in Netheravon, Wiltshire. Most of them had never taken part in a skydive before, but the nerves were countered by excitement, and they couldn’t wait to get up into the autumn sky. Attached to an experienced tandem instructor, each made the jump at 12,000 feet, freefalling at speeds in excess of 120mph before the instructor deployed the parachute canopy for a gentle five-minute descent to the ground. The weather started to close in later in the day, but everyone was able to make their jump before it changed too much. “It was the best thing I’ve ever done!” said one.
Sunday’s fundraisers were also up early, this time to head down to Portsmouth for Phyllis Tuckwell’s last ever Spinnaker Tower abseil. 23 abseilers took part: nine in a group together, some in pairs with a friend or family member, and some as individuals. The weather was slightly windy but all were able to enjoy incredible views across Portsmouth harbour and the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Each then abseiled 100 metres down the side of this iconic tower, raising over £15,000 for local hospice care and a huge cheer from the crowd!
All of the money raised by these amazing fundraisers will go directly towards helping Phyllis Tuckwell provide its supportive and end of life care for local patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer. Every day it supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers, through medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support, but as the NHS/Government usually only covers about 20% of its costs, it has to raise over £25,000 a day to do this.
“Thank you so much to everyone who came along to our last Spinnaker Tower abseil, and made it such a wonderful day, and to all who took part in our last skydive of 2023. We’re so pleased the weather was good for you all and hope you all had a day to remember!” said Fiona Chapman, Events Fundraiser at Phyllis Tuckwell. “We would also like to thank the teams at both the Army Parachute Association and Spinnaker Tower, who are absolutely amazing and were so supportive and kind to everyone who took part.”
Phyllis Tuckwell will be holding three skydive days in March, June and September 2024, so if you like the sound of raising your adrenaline levels, along with vital money for this important local charity, then sign up now at www.pth.org.uk/events. Registration is £50, with a minimum sponsorship of £450.
If you want to try something new, how about signing up for Phyllis Tuckwell’s zipline challenge? It will take place on Saturday 8th June, at England’s longest zipline in Bluewater, Kent. Registration and further information can be found at www.pth.org.uk/zipline.
Whichever challenge you choose, all of the money you raise will help provide specialist care for patients and families in West Surrey and North-East Hampshire who really need your help.