Thrill seekers are being invited to put themselves to the test by taking part in an adventurous fundraising event in aid of Harry’s Rainbow.
Later this month, the children’s bereavement charity in Milton Keynes will be staging another of its skydiving challenges and the team is hoping that seeing its supporters enjoy the experience of a lifetime will encourage others to take up the gauntlet for the next tandem skydive, in September.
And for those for whom jumping from 13,000 feet up is just a little bit too much, vital funds are also regularly raised for the charity through abseils from the Northampton Lift Tower, where participants get a similar thrill from lowering themselves from the tower – still an amazing achievement from 418 feet up at the top of the UK’s tallest permanent abseil venue.
Alison Johnson, Fundraising and Events Manager at Harry’s Rainbow, said: “For many people, a skydive or abseil is a once-in-a-lifetime experience where they really push themselves to do something amazing for charity.
“I’m not sure what’s more fun – or more scary – jumping out of an aeroplane or stepping off the top of the Lift Tower, but either way it’s a fantastic thing to do with friends or colleagues as a team-building exercise or just to challenge yourselves for a good cause.”
Those signing up for the skydive, which takes place at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield in Brackley, don’t have to pay anything to take part, but are asked to raise at least £400 for Harry’s Rainbow.
It’s a similar arrangement for the abseils, where the fundraising minimum is £300 per person.
Harry’s Rainbow offers a full range of services to children across Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas who have lost a parent or sibling. From support groups to mentoring, trips and activities, memory boxes and short holiday breaks, the charity provides support to any child registering with the charity at any point after their loss.
Hundreds of children are registered with Harry’s Rainbow and it costs the charity £650 per year to help each child on its books. The £400 minimum amount for fundraising for one skydive is enough to support 12 children with precious memory boxes.
Individuals, organisations and businesses fundraise for the charity each year, either through their own initiatives or through the charity’s organised events, which include taking part in the MK Festival of Running, the summer Colour Run, fire walks, quiz events and fundraising gala balls.
Tickets are currently on sale for The Golden Ticket Ball on October 3, which will celebrate Harry’s Rainbow’s fifteenth anniversary.
Alison added: “Along with the running events, the skydives and abseils have been a mainstay of our fundraising right from the start and we’d love to see groups of friends or business colleagues get together this year to challenge themselves to do something special for charity.
“A skydive or abseil is often on someone’s bucket list and this is perfect opportunity to experience that thrill and raise money for vulnerable children at the same time.”
To find out more, call 01908 061676, email alison@harrysrainbow.co.uk or visit the website .
