Macclesfield East Cheshire Hospice staff skydive to raise funds for good cause
Employees of East Cheshire Hospice have jumped out of a plane to raise funds for their place of work.
The Millbank Drive good cause, which has been providing support to those affected with life-limiting illnesses since 1987, is a charity that provides their services for free.
To help provide their work, many Maxonians do fundraisers for them, and this includes staff.
Natalie Wallwork was one of them.
Earlier this month, she leapt out of a plane with the aim of raising £300 for East Cheshire Hospice.
Now, she has smashed that goal and then some, raising almost four times her original goal.
Natalie works as a Complementary Therapist at the Hospice.
She offers different relaxation therapies and wellbeing treatments to their patients, relatives, and her fellow staff.
"I'm absolutely blown away with how much I've raised", said Natalie.
"I'm so happy I didn't expect to raise that much. I remember saying to my partner, 'I don't even think I'll get to £300. But I reached that in 24 hours and have now raised almost £1100.
"Thank you to everyone who has donated. Whether it is friends, family, or even a couple of patients at the Hospice who very kindly donated."
Natalie's colleagues Pippa and Sarah also joined her on the skydive, and raised separate amounts themselves.
"The skydive was a beautiful day. It was perfect conditions", added Natalie.
"The safety demonstration and lots of people going before me made me nervous at first.
"But when we got up in the plane I actually felt quite calm.
"Our Corporate Fundraiser Lisa Ball went before me. It was nice having her there and seeing her do the jump before me.
"They actually shut the engine off on the plane when you jump out. Then the photographer jumped out and held on to the side of the plane, ready for me and the instructor to go down.
"Shuffling up to the edge was probably the most nerve-wracking moment.
"You are told to act like a banana when you fall out, which was quite fun, especially as the instructor was saying in my ear 'BE A BANANA, BE A BANANA'.
"You are free-falling for 30 to 40 seconds, then the chute comes out, and it is so quiet.
"It was really peaceful. You could see the lovely patchwork fields, Liverpool, and was far as Wales.
"I feel really proud and grateful that so many people took the time to donate. Even if it is just the price of a coffee, it all helps to provide the amazing service East Cheshire Hospice offers to the community.
"I probably would do it again."
Luke Brightmore, Marketing and Communications Manager for East Cheshire Hospice, commended Natalie for her feat.
"Our clinical staff are face-to-face with patients and families every day and experience the immense highs and lows of their journeys along with them," he said.
"So it's always inspiring to see staff members fundraising and taking on challenges to further support the work they do.
"Natalie's daring skydive not only exemplifies her unwavering dedication to our patients but also demonstrates how varied and exciting life as a Hospice staff member can be!
"We're incredibly proud and thankful for her support and enthusiasm."
As well as working for the Hospice, her holistic, massage and beauty therapy can be booked privately under her brand Treacle Town Therapies.
So if you want to support Natalie personally, in recognition of her efforts, why not find more about her services by clicking here.
"I have been been a therapist for fourteen years," she explained.
"I've been self-employed, in spas and salons. A few years ago, my mum got a breast cancer diagnosis, I went to all of her appointments at Macclesfield Hospital, where there were therapists offering free treatments for chemotherapy patients.
"After that, I decided it was something I wanted to get into. I enrolled in a course for therapists to adapt their work into Hospice settings, and having spent four years now doing this for East Cheshire Hospice I haven't looked back since. It is an amazing place to work."
Macclesfield: You can still donate to Natalie's fundraiser by clicking HERE.
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