A stomach lurching way to raise funds:
PARACHUTE FREEFALL RAISES POUNDS FOR HOUNDS
Fundraiser for Dogs Trust Evesham
Keith Bishop, 30 years old, from Tewkesbury faced his fears on Sunday 11th July with a solo 12500ft parachute jump to raise money for the canine welfare charity Dogs Trust.
The forensic medic took up the challenge in memory of his late dog Blue, a Collie cross he rehomed 7 years ago from Dogs Trust Evesham.
The free fall jump took place at Cirencester Air Field and involved a 5,000ft free fall at a breathtaking speed of 120mph.
Keith Bishop explains:
“I rehomed a crossbreed called Bluey from Dogs Trust Evesham in 2003 and he was like a member of the family to us – he even came to our wedding. When he died of cancer in March I decided to fundraise for Dogs Trust to mark his life and help other dogs have a second chance at life.
I’m terrified of heights and it was all the more hair-raising as I dislocated my shoulder a few seconds after leaving the plane and the instructors had to deploy my parachute!”
Keith received treatment for his shoulder at Gloucester Hospital last week and now reflects on the jump:
“It was the single scariest thing I have ever done, swiftly followed by the single most painful thing I have ever done! I would like to thank everyone who has helped so far, especially my wife Lucinda for putting up with the world’s worst patient and my employers G4S Integrated Services for giving me the time off work and financial sponsorship as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility commitments.”
Chris Slight, Dogs Trust Evesham Centre Manager adds:
“We’re very grateful to Keith for taking the initiative and offering to do the challenge to raise vital funds for us. Dogs Trust receives no government funding so we rely on the generosity of our supporters and fundraisers like Keith to help us care for over 16,000 dogs a year.”
To contribute to Keith’s sponsorship fund visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/keithbishop or www.dogstrust.org.uk/giving/donations.
Dogs Trust Evesham is one of the charity’s largest rehoming centres and cares for 150 dogs at any one time. The local catchment area covers all of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, although visitors from other counties are very welcome.