Daredevil Dot’s fantastic freefall helps raise £3,300

A thrill-seeking granny who took a 13,000 foot leap of faith to raise money for the charity which supported her husband through his final days has thanked everyone who sponsored her after raising £3,300.

Daredevil Dot Booley, who lives in Holton, jumped from a plane in the skies above Beccles on bank holiday Monday to raise money for Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund (HCNCF) while marking the sixth anniversary of her husband Peter’s death.

The only downside from the day was that Dot lost a silver locket containing pictures of Peter, who died of prostate cancer, and her son Thomas, who died of a brain tumour aged 16, during the jump. She is now appealing to anyone who may find it to get in touch.

“It was absolutely amazing and I enjoyed every minute of it,” said Dot, a retired nursery nurse. “I can honestly say I wasn’t scared or nervous at all – all I felt was excitement from the moment I first signed up to do it.

“I am thrilled to bits to have raised so much. It was such a great experience and the people at Beccles Airfield were fabulous. I think they thought I was a bit crazy but I was so grateful they made it such a nice day. It was something I will truly never forget.

“I really wanted to wear the pendant as I wanted both my son and husband to be with me on such a momentous day. I know there is a very slim chance but if someone does find it, I’d love to hear from them.”

So far Dot, 67, has raised around £3,300, but is hoping the total will be closer to £3,500 once she has collected all of her sponsorship. The money will go towards HCNCF’s ongoing campaign to raise £714,000 to build a new information and support centre (ISC) for people in north east Suffolk and south Norfolk with life-limiting illnesses.

The ISC, earmarked for land next to Cutlers Hill Surgery in Halesworth, will bring a full range of holistic services closer to home, including benefits advice, wig-fitting, complementary therapies, help understanding a diagnosis, counselling and bereavement support.

It will be open to both patients and their carers and will serve around 50,000 people living within a 15 mile radius of Halesworth, who currently have to travel up to 30 miles to a major town or city to access support.

“I’d like to thank everyone who supported me so generously,” added Dot. “It really has been amazing – I’ve heard from people I haven’t seen for years and years who got in touch after reading about the jump in the paper. It’s so lovely that they feel so strongly and are keen to show their support.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Dot can still do so by visiting https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/dotbooley1 

Anyone who finds Dot’s locket can contact her by emailing [email protected]

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Golfers’ generosity boosts ISC appeal

Generous golfers have given an ongoing £714,000 campaign to develop an innovative centre for people with life-limiting illnesses a boost after raising more than £3,000 during a special competition held last week.

Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund (HCNCF) hosted the golf day at Halesworth Golf Club last Wednesday (13 May) to raise money for the information and support centre (ISC) project. So far, nearly £3,500 has been collected from the day, which included a raffle alongside the main competition.

The money will be put towards the ISC, which aims to bring a full range of holistic services closer to home for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers. This includes benefits advice, wig-fitting, children and family support, complementary therapies, help understanding a diagnosis, counselling and bereavement support.

The appeal has now surpassed the 64% mark, with the current total standing at over £456,000.

Ted Edwards, ISC chairman, said: “We are really grateful to everyone who supported our golf day, either by signing up to play or sponsoring a hole or donating a raffle prize. The day really did go with a swing and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

“We would also like to thank Halesworth Golf Club for their help and support in arranging the event.

“We are delighted that we raised well over £3,000 on the day. It takes us one step closer towards realising the dream of creating this fantastic facility for people living in north east Suffolk and south Norfolk, who currently need to travel much further afield to access the sort of help and support we hope to provide at the ISC.”

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For more information about the ISC project, or to make a donation, visit www.halesworthhealth.org/information-and-support-centre

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