A PAIR of courageous care home colleagues conquered their fear of heights with a 10,000-ft skydive that raised more than £2,000 for a church restoration fund.
Ruth Wildman and Denise Marks, home manager and Companionship Team leader respectively at Colten Care’s Avon Reach in Mudeford, Dorset, took to the skies in aid of a repair and rebuilding project at nearby Mudeford All Saints Church.
It was severely damaged in an accidental electrical fire in the summer of 2022, prompting much community fundraising to put right its devastated roof and interior.
Ruth and Denise did their skydive at the Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury, inviting Avon Reach residents along to watch them from the ground.
Ruth said: “We were really scared when we were sat in the plane. When the moment came, as it was a tandem jump with an expert instructor, you didn’t have time to think about it.
“It’s difficult to put into words how to describe the feeling of flying but it was truly amazing and exhilarating. We both said we would do it again.”
Thanks to sponsorship from friends, families, colleagues and the wider Avon Reach community, Ruth and Denise raised a total of £2,064.
Ruth added: “I really didn’t think we would raise that much money. We sincerely thank everyone who supported us.”
As well as Ruth and Denise’s skydive, Avon Reach has supported All Saints since the fire through initiatives such as providing space for church groups to meet. The home holds a monthly church service which is open to parishioners as well as residents, and it partnered with the church on a fundraising quiz.
Skydivers Denise Marks and Ruth Wildman are pictured awaiting their 10,000-ft tandem jump at Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury. With them is Avon Reach resident Bruce Eynon.