Sky's the limit: Helen joins MP's fundraising parachute jump

A charity skydive by a Harper Adams University Business Development Consultant has helped raise more than £16,000 for a new cancer centre in Telford.

Helen Walker was among a group of fundraisers who worked with the town’s MP, Shaun Davies and his team to take part in a charity skydive.

While the team faced a series of challenges – due to weather and illness – they were finally able to complete their jumps earlier this month at the Tilstock airfield near Whitchurch.

Hele said: “Sitting on the edge of the plane with the door open and the ground 13,000 feet below me is something I’ll never forget. It was a combination of ‘What on earth am I doing?’ and ‘Look how tiny everything is!’

“The moment you launch out of the plane is so difficult to put into words – your body is telling you that you shouldn’t be voluntarily leaving the plane and the first few seconds are a complete blur of adrenaline, but then the feeling of flying takes over.

“The parachute opens, everything slows down and it’s just peaceful.

“As our Vice-Chancellor mentioned when we talked about the skydive, the second I landed I was ready to do another one!”

The total raised by the group was £16,000, with the money going to the Lingen Davies Cancer Support’s Sunflower Appeal.

Helen added: “People have been very kind and I have already reached my target – but donations are still coming in!

“This is a Telford specific campaign, so it will be supporting people directly in our local area.”

 The Sunflower Appeal campaign aims to raise £5 million to create a new Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford by 2029.

The new centre will provide outpatient clinics, up to 30 chemotherapy treatment bays, a Lung Diagnostic Centre, and a Urology Investigations Unit, helping to double chemotherapy capacity across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and Mid Wales.

Helen added: “By bringing cancer treatment closer to home for thousands of patients, the appeal will reduce travel times, ease pressure on existing services, shorten waiting times, and improve access to vital care.

“Every donation helps grow local cancer services and ensures more people can receive the treatment and support they need, when and where they need it most.”

Anyone who wants to support Helen can find her JustGiving page here.