Skydive in memory of mother raises over £1,100 for the My WiSH charity
]It was a poignant moment for Tina Parker as she stood just a few inches away from the open hatchway.
For she had fond flashes of memories of her mother Brenda as she dived out of the aircraft from 14,000 feet.
And after landing safely and counting all the fundraising money from the stunt she has been able to hand over a total of £1,182.50 to the My WiSH Charity, which supports the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, with the funds going towards the Macmillan Unit.
For it was here that her 67-year-old mother was treated after being diagnosed with bowel cancer which eventually claimed her life last October.
Tina, who lives just to the north of Bury St Edmunds and runs Enspire Gift Home Garden, a store in the town’s Sicklesmere Road, said: “From the moment she was diagnosed the staff on G1 were our support network within the hospital. My mum loved every member of staff on the Macmillan unit and raising money for them is a token of my gratitude for what they done while mum was being nursed by them.
“I do not know what we would have done if we had not had the support of the unit and the oncology department and she was looked after so well.
“The money raised will enable them to carry on nursing patients and supporting their families it will also help to get up to date equipment.”
The skydive took place last month (August) at Beccles Airfield, in Ellough, just a week after Tina marked her 50th birthday. (August 17).
It was one of three things she had on a bucket list just before she turned 50 and has now completed them all with the other two being a hot air balloon trip and a bungee jump.
“I really did feel mum was with me on the skydive and the feeling was amazing,” she said.
Now she is organising a charity ball for My WiSH which is being held at Ashlar House, in Eastern Way, Bury St Edmunds, on Saturday, December 2.
Pictured above is Tina Parker with staff nurse Tracy Fell, left, and Jolie Farrington, sister.