30th April, 2019, Melanie Harriss
A mum of one is preparing to jump out of a plane to raise money for a new much-needed palliative care facility in Hopton.
Tess Croston is skydiving at Ellough Airfield on May 12, to support the fundraising mission by East Coast Hospice to build a 10-bed specialist unit with day-care and complimentary therapies for people living in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
The 26-year-old was alerted to the cause through Stephenson Smart, the accountancy firm she works for in Great Yarmouth, which acts for the Hospice.
She said: “A poster was passed around at work about skydiving for East Coast Hospice’s charity fund. I’ve always wanted to jump out of a plane and I tend to look for things to challenge me, so I thought I would go for it.
“I’m not nervous about going up in the plane or the actual skydiving itself as there’s nothing you can change at that point, but it’s the part where they lean you forward to get ready to jump that makes me apprehensive.”
This isn’t the first time that Tess has taken on an extreme activity for charity.
She’s already completed a 50-mile bike ride and a 24-hour stay-a-awake where she was not permitted to speak - both to raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Tess’s partner, son and all her work colleagues will be at the airfield on the day to support her.
“The jump was scheduled before Christmas, but it had to be cancelled because of bad weather, so now I am just really looking forward to doing it - I seem to thrive off being scared!
“It’s a brilliant cause and so desperately needed. I am excited to see how much money I can raise.”
Margaret Chadd House is considered to be one of the most important medical facilities to be built on the east coast for many years.
It will provide specialist end of life care led by a palliative care consultant and will include 10 single rooms, private gardens, a day care unit for up to 15 patients, occupational therapy and complementary therapies.
To sponsor Tess, visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/tesscroston1
