A team of nurses and operating theatre staff from Benenden Hospital, near Cranbrook, will be taking to the skies on 21 July to raise funds for a national suicide prevention charity.
The brave team of seven from the hospital’s Bensan Ward will be embarking on a tandem skydive at Headcorn Aerodrome as part of a year of fundraising for Papyrus, the national charity for the prevention of young suicide.
Following several successful events over the course of the year, such as a ‘Monopoly walk’ around London, cake sales and a grand Easter draw supported by local businesses, the team have already raised an impressive £4,250 of a £7,500 target.
Organiser and staff nurse Kate Minett said: “We chose to fundraise for Papyrus in memory of a young, beautiful and treasured friend who is sadly missed. The support so far has been fantastic and we’re so grateful to the many generous individual donors and local businesses who have helped raise money for such an important charity.”
Kate planned the year of fundraising following a successful application for the hospital’s annual Lord Plant Travel Fellowship. The scheme allows staff to apply for up to £3,000 to carry out a project for professional or personal development, travelling anywhere globally, learning about healthcare-related ideas or fundraising for numerous causes.
The Bensan Ward team’s final fundraising event of the year will be a charity dinner dance at the London Beach Hotel, Tenterden, on Saturday 9 September.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the team can do so via their JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bensan-ward
Published on 13 June 2023