TWO friends from Lockerbie and Dumfries are getting ready to undertake the highest skydive in the UK to raise money for Marie Curie.
Louise Gibson, 20, and her friend Kyla Armstrong, 19, will jump from 15,000ft this June in memory of Louise’s late granny, Jane Gibson who passed away last year after being diagnosed with cancer.
Jane, originally from Castle Douglas, worked as a radiographer in the NHS for many years. She was diagnosed with kidney cancer in January last year and passed away in June.
The whole family were very grateful for the care and support provided by Marie Curie and now Louise would like to give something back.
She said: “Granny was incredible, she went above and beyond for anyone she knew. She was the rock of the family and always kept everyone in line.
“She was always busy and loved the outdoors and hill walking.
“She also loved counted cross-stitch, jigsaws and overseas travel. “Family values remained important to her right up to the end of her life, she set the bar high, very high, and now her commitment towards family and friends has rubbed off on the next generation.
“I know that she was and always will be very proud of everyone around her and what will be achieved in the years to come. But most importantly, all she would wish for would be for everyone to be happy.
“Granny was a very independent woman and somehow managed without any help until her last few days.”
Describing how Marie Curie gave both physical and emotional support to Jane and the family, Louise added: “We will be forever grateful for the support we received. They came out to our family home at all hours of the day.
“The nurses from Marie Curie were amazing.”
Although scared of heights, Louise has always wanted to do a skydive, saying: “I have always wanted to do one to tick it off the bucket list, however I am scared of heights. So I knew if I was going to do one it would definitely be for charity and something that mattered to me. I am so lucky to be doing it with Kyla as I know she will support me through it all. I’m full of excitement but I know the nerves will kick in soon.
“Our goal is to reach £1000, so far we have done amazing on our fundraising page. We also have charity pots in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Castle Douglas that I know are doing brilliantly.
“I am overwhelmed by how much we have raised in such a short space of time. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the support so far, everyone who has donated and all of the kind messages.”
Money raised will go towards Marie Curie’s crucial caring services, research into terminal illness and campaigning for better end of life care as well as improving awareness of the charity and generating future income.
The Just Giving page can be accessed at the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louise-gibson20?
