Shropshire teenagers take on Halloween skydive for children’s hospital

A pair of Shropshire students are swapping the netball court for the skies to support seriously ill children.

Two Shropshire teenagers are preparing to swap the netball court for the skies this Halloween, taking on a tandem skydive to mark a 16th birthday and raise £1,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

Wrekin College pupils Bitsie and Tamara will take the plunge on October 31 in a challenge inspired by the care being given to the newborn son of one of their teachers, who is currently receiving life-saving treatment at the hospital.

Rather than celebrating Tamara’s milestone birthday with cake and presents alone, the friends have chosen to do something meaningful for children and families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Their fundraising will support the hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Ward 11, where their teacher’s baby is receiving specialist care. Having seen the impact of the support provided to their teacher’s family, the girls hope their challenge will help other families in similar circumstances.

The pair said: “Usually, you’ll find us on the netball court, but on October 31 we’ll be taking on a challenge that’s a little higher than our usual sporting adventures.

“We wanted to make Tamara’s 16th birthday about more than just cake and presents. We wanted to do something meaningful and raise money for a cause that is incredibly close to so many people’s hearts.

“We cannot begin to imagine what our teacher and their family are going through, but we know how much the care, expertise and compassion of the hospital teams mean to families facing some of the most frightening and uncertain moments of their lives.

“We wanted our challenge to be about more than just jumping out of a plane. We hope that, in our own small way, we can help support the incredible work they do every day.

“We would be so grateful for any donation, no matter how big or small, to help us reach our £1,000 target.”

Steve Green, Headmaster of Wrekin College, praised the pupils for their initiative and generosity.

He said: “We are incredibly proud of Bitsie and Tamara for turning such a special personal milestone into an opportunity to support other children and families.

“Their determination to do something positive for a cause that has such a strong personal connection to our school community is a wonderful example of compassion, courage and generosity. It is particularly moving to see them thinking of others at a time when a member of our school community is facing such a difficult experience.

“At Wrekin, we want our pupils to make a difference both in and beyond the classroom, and Bitsie and Tamara are doing exactly that. We wish them the very best for their skydive and hope the wider community will get behind their fundraising.”

The girls are aiming to raise £1,000 to support the vital work of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

To donate and help Bitsie and Tamara reach their target, visit justgiving.com/team/bitsieandtamaraskydive