A grandmother-of-11, with a fear of heights, is preparing for a skydive to help find a cure after her husband died from a brain tumour.
Helen Pickford is preparing to jump out of a plane at 10,000ft on Saturday 11th June. She is raising funds for Brain Tumour Research to mark what would’ve been her husband John’s 70th birthday.
The daring challenge also comes days after “Coronation baby” Helen’s birthday and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
John was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in September 2000. He underwent an operation to remove most of the tumour, gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, but died in June 2001, just four days after his 49th birthday.
Helen (pictured preparing for the Jubilee with some of her grandchildren) said: “I haven’t planned any celebrations yet for my birthday in this special Platinum year, I shall be conserving my energy for 11th June instead. This would have been my husband John’s 70th birthday, but sadly he died 21 years ago of a brain tumour. I could not let the day come and go without marking it somehow, so I have pledged to undertake a sponsored skydive on his birthday to raise much needed funds for Brain Tumour Research.
“Ten years ago, on what would have been John’s 60th birthday, we put up a flagpole in the garden. He had always wanted one, I’ve no idea why, so this year the Union Jack will be flying throughout June to honour the Queen’s long reign, and my lovely husband, whose life was cut short way too soon. Oh, and my birthday.”
If you’d like to support Helen’s aerial adventure, please donate via her JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/HELEN-PICKFORD3