On 20th August 2021 I am going to do a parachute jump from a height of 15,000 feet to celebrate my 60th Birthday and raise funds for The Elizabeth Foundation for profoundly deaf children. Like many charities in the last year they have suffered income wise because of the pandemic.

What does charity mean to me? Let me tell you the story of my own personal journey. At the age of four I contracted measles and as a result of this, it left me profoundly deaf and I am only able to hear sounds and only lip read. I am also unable to hear on the telephone, watch TV without subtitles, or attend meetings/conversations of more than one person.

At the age of 11 I attended a boarding school for profoundly deaf children in Brighton named Ovingdean Hall School, which later closed in July 2010. Every December before we broke up for Christmas, it was an exciting time for us all as a fleet of taxis came to pick us all up and take us to Brighton Fun Fair and through the streets of Brighton, all lit up with Christmas decorations, and finally a trip to Woolworths, where the taxi drivers walked around with us asking what we wanted. They all paid for the fuel, funfair rides and the presents for us out of their own pockets. Their generosity is imprinted on my mind and has always done so, I have never forgotten it. Small things like this can go a long way.

Now, many years later, the time has come for me to do the same for others. I am in the position to do so and to hopefully bring a smile and a happy memory to whoever I am able to help, just as the taxi drivers did for me many, many years ago.

The Elizabeth Foundation was founded 40 years ago when I was in my twenties and working for IBM at Havant, Hampshire. Around this time, I ran the 1982 London Marathon and raised £401.50p for the National Deaf Childrens Society. My first ever charity achievement.

This year, The Elizabeth Foundation celebrate their 40th Anniversary and I celebrate my 60th Birthday. I have decided to go for the 15,000 feet jump that gives me 60 seconds of freefall before my parachute deploys. This is one second for every year of my life. I hope to raise £2,400 which is my age (60) multiplied by the 40 Years of the Elizabeth Foundation.

I want to give young profoundly deaf children the chance I never had. Over the last 40 years technology has progressed and children are taught to recognise sounds at an early age. On further research of The Elizabeth Foundation, I was delighted to discover that they are being supported by the Ovingdean Hall Foundation that is my former school trustees.

The Elizabeth Foundation (TEF) has been teaching deaf babies and preschool children to learn to listen and talk. Through a wide range of outstanding education and welfare services, they improve learning outcomes and social inclusion, setting high expectations for bright futures. The charity provides the practical support and guidance to families from the moment their child is diagnosed with any degree of hearing loss often when a baby is a just a few weeks old. Families can attend specialist education sessions at the Family Centre in Portsmouth, or enrol for online learning.

By providing early intervention to deaf and hearing-impaired children, including those with additional disabilities and learning needs, TEF aims for children to leave them at age 5, ready and able to join school with confidence, alongside their hearing peers. The charity has no automatic entitlement to statutory funding so helping support me with my skydive will make a lasting and positive difference.

All supporters are made welcome by the charity; if you would like more information or to visit the Family Centre to see the impact of your generosity, (once government restrictions have been lifted), please do contact them via their website: https://www.elizabeth-foundation.org/ or call 02392 372735

I hope you will be able to join me and show your support for this very worthy cause. Thank you very much from both myself and everyone at The Elizabeth Foundation.