17 year old King Edward VI College student Megan Palmer contacted Sam Billingham, the founder of SODA (Survivors of Domestic Abuse) on Facebook after attending a previous fund raising event earlier on in the year.

Megan messaged Sam saying, "I've had a look online at skydiving companies. One I've found charges £239 for a 10,000 ft jump. I don't want to use fundraised money to pay for this so I'm hoping to save enough to self-fund."

When Sam met with Megan, compassion, dedication and enthusiasm oozed from Megan as she spoke of how she wanted to do a sky dive to raise funds for SODA.

Stourbridge resident, Megan said she wanted to support the voluntary group by fundraising for them because it's something that is needed.

Brave Megan will be taking part in the skydive in the summer months of next year, 2017 (no fixed date as yet) and we are asking you to support this amazing young woman by donating whatever small change you have in the hope that it will make a big difference.

Every penny that is donated will go straight to SODA which will then allow them to raise awareness, educatate and offer ongoing aftercare and support to any man, woman and child that is or who has experienced domestic abuse.

SODA was set up in 1999 as an online support group on Facebook to help raise awareness and reduce isolation. The group is still active today and has over 900 members worldwide. Sam Billingham, the face and founder, is a single parent and a survivor of domestic abuse.

"I set up the support group because I felt there wasn't enough support out there for those who had suffered domestic abuse. I wanted to do something to help others."

Over the years Sam has advocated and raise awareness through power of social media and the media, on a voluntary basis.

In December 2015, her mum, also called Megan, passed away and one of the last things she said was not to give up with SODA. Sam will be running self care groups and workshops in 2017.

http://www.sodahq.org/