Updated on Mar 22nd 2011 at 3:05 PM from the JustGiving API

THANK YOU so so much for all your generosity! You wouldn't believe how appreciated it is! YOU are all helping to a great cause! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Thank you for your kind donations so far! We are so grateful for your time and generosity!

I’m Natalie Frenchum and I am going to be doing a sponsored parachute jump for charity on the 11^th of June 2011. I need YOUR help in raising as much money as I can for the charity I have chosen to sponsor!
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

What makes me mad enough to do this?!
My own father! My dad turned 70 on the 8^th of March this year
He has always wanted to do a parachute jump and I decided that if he is mad enough and brave enough at the ripe ole’ age of 70… then so am I at the ripe ole’ age of 21!

Joking aside now, the reason for my moment of madness?!
I have been a 20 a day smoker for the past 30 years and I quit before Christmas 2010 after being inspired by my daughters friend Sophie.
Sophie has Cystic Fibrosis. This is a progressive, life threatening, genetic illness that affects both the lungs and pancreas and can then lead on to have a knock on effect with the rest of their body as the illness progresses.
It fills both the lungs and digestive system with a thick, sticky mucus which makes breathing increasingly difficult and makes them prone to chest infections; therefore, frequent hospitalizations and a life long supply of a constant strict regime of treatment, physio and a high calorie diet is a necessity.
It will not get better as there is no cure. Average life expectancy of a person with CF is mid 30’s,

Sophie is heading on the transplant list at some point this year at the age of 17. This is after slowly losing the battle with this condition which has forced Sophie to drop out of college and travel around places with both portable oxygen and a wheelchair as her lung functions are abysmal.
Nevertheless, Sophie’s optimism and sheer determination is inspirational and has made me quit smoking and take the plunge to raise as much money and awareness as possible! I don’t want to take for granted my ability to have healthy lungs and I want to live my life to the full.
I am no longer causing unnecessary damage to my lungs with cigarettes whilst Sophie and others just like her suffer and struggle to fight damage they aren’t able to help or stop.

I want to make a difference and YOU can help me!
So dig deep guys.. we all know times are hard but lets take a leaf out of Sophie’s book.. “things could always be worse!”

Thanks for your time and generosity in advance,
Nat
x x x x

Updated on Mar 14th 2011 at 10:35 PM from the JustGiving API

Thank you SO much, you wouldn't believe how much all your generosity means to us and so many people! :D

Updated on Mar 13th 2011 at 2:43 PM from the JustGiving API

Thankyou SO much Mr/Mrs anonymous :D grately appreciated!

Updated on Mar 13th 2011 at 10:57 AM from the JustGiving API