September skydive to raise money for Eden Valley Hospice

Carley Hunter is fundraising through JustGiving for Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, where she works, and is aiming to raise £1000 when she skydives in September.

After suffering from Crohn's disease for more than 20 years, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of ulcerative colitis, and surgery was needed to remove her bowel completely.

She said: "I've come through the worst year of my life but I'm thankful and grateful to have bounced back. I work in the most amazing workplace and I thought, what better way to celebrate still being alive by doing the craziest challenge I could think of, while fundraising for Jigsaw.

Carley has already raised more than £600 through her JustGiving page, and another £400 through paper donations, but is hoping to raise as much as possible after smashing her initial target. 

She said: "I've already smashed my target but I want to keep emptying people's pockets between now and the day of the jump in September. Jigsaw is a very special place. The work we do there is immeasurable and without the fundraising we wouldn't be able to offer those children and families the respite and care that we are able to give them.

"The support that I received while I was off sick from work on both occasions, from the hospice as a whole and Jigsaw families, has been amazing."

Carley is something of an adrenaline junkie, and is now counting down the days to September 15. 

She said: "For the last year, all I've felt is anaesthetic, morphine and pain, so I want to feel alive again and go flying without wings.

Jigsaw said: "We are incredibly grateful for our Healthcare Assistant, Carley, who has shown immense strength and resilience over the past year.

"Despite undergoing two life-saving surgeries, Carley has bounced back with incredible spirit and is now ready to take on a new challenge to help support Cumbria’s only children’s hospice."