Skydivers to plunge 13,000 feet in bid to raise money for the Butterfly Appeal

Five brave volunteers are getting ready to plunge 13,000 feet in a bid to raise money for a hospital appeal.

On Saturday, September 28, the skydivers from the Rougham Industrial Estate’s Infusions Group, which owns the ICE Café, along with two friends are off to Beccles in a bid to raise funds for the My WiSH Charity, which supports the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds.

The thrill seekers are customer support manager Paul Bluett, warehouse supervisor Dylan Mitchell, sales team member Piers Symons, driver Andy Moss and ICE Café chef Tom Jonaitis. They will be joined by friends Rob Newman and Wayne Hailstone who volunteered once they heard about the plan.

The group chose to take on the challenge after hearing Sue Smith, My WiSH head of fundraising, speak about the charity’s Butterfly Appeal at a recent staff quiz night for the charity, which the Infusions Group have chosen to support as its charity of the year 2019.

The Butterfly Appeal, which is due to be officially launched in the next month or so, is aimed at supporting the hospital’s huge proportion of palliative and end of life patients.

My WiSH Charity works closely with staff to find out what is needed and where it can help to ensure relatives, friends and loved ones are cared for too as this in turn, gives the patient comfort.

The charity already provides comfort packs which consist of tissues, water, wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste among other things. These are for patients loved ones to make them more comfortable during their stay at the bedside. As well as the packs, they provide day beds and are seeking to purchase more as they allow relatives to stay and get some much-needed sleep whilst never leaving their side.  hey have also recently funded specialist training to allow nurses to administer pain relief.

Jumper Dylan has mixed thoughts about the jump, saying: “I’m excited for the jump and fingers crossed all goes well. I’m going to be conquering two phobias doing this jump – flying and heights. I regret it already to be honest but it’s a great cause and if I can support it by raising some funds while crossing something off my bucket list then it’s a win win.”

Another jumper Piers had a few less nerves about the jump.

He said, “I’m confident and excited. It’s something different to do with colleagues. I’m looking forward to watching colleagues jump from a plane whilst I sit back and laugh.”

And Sue Smith added: “We are so grateful to Infusions Group and ICE for their continued support and to these amazing guys who are willing to jump out of a plane to raise money for us. The money they raise will make such a difference to our end of life patients and their loved ones and we can’t thank everyone enough”.

If you would like to donate to the cause, or find out more information, please contact Sarah Stamp at sarah@infusionsgroup.com

Pictured above are the skydiving team from the Infusions Group.