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Skydiving for Shooting Stars Chase



The charity, Chase, was first bought to my attention during my time working at Echo Research. It was voted our local charity of choice many years ago and we have supported them ever since. In 2011 Chase and another charity, Shooting Star, came together to become Chase Shooting Stars.

The work they do is fantastic and the idea behind the charity is so wonderful. They support families who have a child that is not expected to make it past their 19th birthday. The idea being that families can do fun things together in the short time they have in the company of other people facing exactly the same outcome. They offer emotional support to parents and siblings at home, in the communities or in a hospice.

A quote from their website “Our services are available 365 days a year, and families receive our support free of charge, in their own homes and communities and at our two children’s hospices. We need to find £23,000 a day to provide all these vital services.”

They go on to say: “Whilst the NHS offers families medical and practical treatment, there is inadequate provision for respite care or general day-to-day support that families need so desperately.
This is why we exist, and why we rely on public support to keep providing a vital service for families going through the toughest of times.
We are committed to supporting these families and caring for the children.  We want to be there for every step of their journey”

I am very fortunate that I have not needed to use this type of support or had much in the way of struggle in my life. So I don’t have a heartbreaking story of my own to share about why I believe in this charity so much. Just knowing that it exists and that families, dealing with the dreadful prospect of their loved ones passing away during childhood, are supported is all I need to make me a supporter.

My company raises money as often as we can by having bake sales, paying for the privilege to dress down  once a month or, most recently, donating the Sweep stake Grand National winnings. Then two years ago my boss raised the idea of doing a skydive as we could raise much more money and realize a life's ambition at the same time. Unfortunately (for the charity and skydive) I fell pregnant and begged him to hold off until I could join in.

So, on June 30th 2013 I and four work colleagues will be skydiving on behalf of this amazing charity and in all honesty I think it is the very least we can do. If you have read this and are moved like I am by the work they do then feel free to sponsor me. Every penny helps!
http://www.doitforcharity.com/KHenden

I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone that has sponsored me already, I will not let you down.
To read more about Shooting Star Chase please have a look at their website: http://www.shootingstarchase.org.uk/ Or follow on twitter (@SSCHospices)


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