A blind teenager with a mind tumour was brimming with pleasure after finishing a “sensible” skydive to boost cash for a most cancers charity.
Jack Thompson, 16, was identified with a low grade glioma, a sort of mind tumour, on his optic nerve when he was 4 months previous, which left him registered blind.
He has since undergone seven rounds of chemotherapy, proton remedy and must have common mind scans and progress hormone injections each evening.
Nonetheless, {the teenager}, who lives in Gateshead, Tyne and Put on, has at all times remained optimistic and because the age of seven has raised greater than £160,000 for the charity Younger Lives vs Most cancers, which has supported him from a younger age.
Jack’s skydive on Saturday on the SkyHigh Skydiving centre in Peterlee was his ultimate daring pursuit earlier than “retiring” from fundraising to focus on his GCSEs.
He advised the PA information company: “(The skydive) was sensible.
“They harness you up and then you definately leap out of the aircraft and if you’re doing the freefall, it is extremely windy and you might be shifting at about 120 miles an hour, which I heard.
“Even within the house of 30 seconds going at that velocity, you drop a lot, however I like going quick.
“I additionally obtained to do a little bit of steering of the parachute which was an ideal expertise.”
His aunt Wendy, her buddy Amy and Sam Hughes – a fundraising engagement supervisor at Younger Lives vs Most cancers – all tackled skydives too.
Jack has fundraised at Morrisons retailers since 2018 and a supervisor on the grocery store’s retailer in Doxford Park additionally joined the group in finishing the journey on Saturday.
“They loved it and Sam Hughes from Younger Lives vs Most cancers jumped on the final minute, however she stated she would by no means do a skydive once more,” Jack stated.
He stated if somebody enjoys a “little bit of a thrill” and “a little bit of adrenaline”, they need to “give it a go”.
Jack celebrated finishing the skydive by having a celebration together with his family members and stated the door remains to be open for him to proceed fundraising as soon as he has completed his GCSEs.
Till then, one other member of the Thompson household is about to take over.
“My sister Ava (9) will likely be taking up and I could return as soon as I’ve executed my GCSEs.
“Generally we fundraise collectively and we’ll have a contest to see who can elevate probably the most cash.
“I wish to do effectively in as many GCSE topics as attainable – hopefully all of them – and maths is my favorite.”
Pascale Harvie, president and normal supervisor of JustGiving, stated: “Jack’s dedication to supporting Younger Lives vs Most cancers is unbelievable and we’re in awe of his dedication to offer again to the charity.
“From everybody at JustGiving we wish to congratulate Jack on his epic skydive and we can not wait to see what fundraising exercise he takes on subsequent.”
Jack stated assist from folks following his story has been “wonderful” and “vastly appreciated” and his JustGiving web page will be accessed right here: https://www.justgiving.com/web page/sam-hughes-1707841745519
