A Bracknell-based Mum is set to jump 15,000 ft from a plane in memory of her daughter who passed away of a terminal brain tumour.
Kim Hector, from Easthampstead, has dedicated herself to furthering research for the rare form of brain tumour that her daughter Courtney was diagnosed with.
Courtney received her diagnosis in January 2022 after complaining of excruciating headaches and despite a strenuous 10-month battle at Royal Marsden Hospital, she died on December 3 2022.
To support the cancer research at Royal Marsden Hospital, Kim has held a variety of events over the last year including the Monopoly charity walk around London in 2023 and a host of charity events.
Kim explained: “Over the last year we have done so much to raise money for the charity to help fund research for brain tumours.
“There is no way I would have done a skydive before but part of me feels that I will be closer to Courtney when I’m up there and I find comfort in that.
“I thought with everything that Courtney went through this is the least that I can do and I feel that I will be a little bit closer to her.
“I will be taking part of Courtney’s ashes up with me in a little sachet to keep her close to my heart as I do it.”
Over the last year, the family and friends have raised over £20,000 through a charity Monopoly walk in London, a race night and the skydive which will take place on May 11, 2024.
For Kim, the aim is to raise £100,000 to help the children and young adults cancer charity at Royal Marsden Hospital for research and the development of clinical trials.
So far £6,000 has been raised for the charity through the skydive alone between the 15 people taking part.
She added: “I honestly didn’t think I would have got that much so quickly considering we’ve only done three big events and it’s just off our own back with family and friends sharing and donating.
“It’s just been marvellous, you can see how kind people are out there. Sometimes it feels like there is no good in the world but when something bad happens you see how good people are. It’s amazing.
“This keeps me going. Keeping myself busy doing things that are going to help other people not have to go through what we’ve gone through.”
According to research by Cancer Research UK, brain tumours are the second most common type of children’s cancer in the UK and affect over 420 children each year across the country.
Many parents of children with brain tumours have voiced the need for more research in the UK and the inclusion of clinical trials on the NHS.
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