A team of 20 LOROS staff and trustees, many of whom have been working at the Hospice throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, have joined forces to raise funds for the charity at this year’s LOROS skydive.
Spurred on by LOROS Chief Executive John Knight, who had his skydiving debut at last year’s event, Team LOROS will take to the skies on Sunday 9th May 2021 at Sibson Airfield, each jumping from 13,000 feet and reaching speeds of up to 120mph before landing safely back to earth.
Each skydiver has pledged to raise a minimum of £400 in sponsorship, but many are determined to raise much more and ‘do their bit’ for the Hospice.
The challenge will raise much-needed funds for LOROS, which has been hit incredibly hard by the coronavirus pandemic and is facing a £2.3 million loss in raised income across this financial year.
Jo Potts, Deputy Day Therapy Manager at LOROS, was one of the first to sign up to jump.
She said: “I’ve always been proud to work for LOROS, but never more so than over this past year. Despite it being a challenging twelve months for us all, together, we’ve continued to be here for patients and their families throughout the coronavirus pandemic and I know we’ve made a difference to so many people.
“I’m really pleased to be part of Team LOROS and look forward to sharing this amazing experience with my colleagues and seeing just how much we can raise!”
Alongside Jo, LOROS Nurse Theresa Dryhurst, who has worked at the Hospice for over 10 years, will also be taking to the skies this May.
Along with caring for patients and their families on the LOROS Ward throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Theresa has also had to juggle home schooling her two children, which she has found very stressful.
Theresa has signed up to the skydive in May as a way of doing something for herself, and commented: “It’s been a heart breaking year for us. Although we’ve not been on the front line as such, we’ve still felt the impact of COVID-19 here at LOROS. We’ve had patients with COVID-
19, watched them die and have seen the impact visiting restrictions have on patients, relatives and staff.”
“I’ve really struggled at times, and I signed up because I just needed something to focus on and to take my mind off everything else that’s going on. I’m doing this for my own mental health, as well as to raise money for LOROS.”
