Kat’s story: When your friend asks you if you’d like to throw yourself out of plane it will make you double take in the first instance.  Knowing Laura I knew there would be something a little more interesting to it and sure enough there is a very good reason with it.

I was made aware of DSN and the great work they do through my friend a couple of years ago and have been watching their campaigns pop up through the channels.  I loved that they used creative ways of raising awareness and being communicative with the wider world about the deaf community.  

My own experience of the deaf community is limited and only recently I worked with young make up artist @tombarber.artistry who produce some epic work last October.  And in that environment I experienced first hand (but I imagine only a fraction of)  the difficulties he has day to day as a communicator.

I am a photographer and rely on my hearing and speech to express and explain, and communicate with people.  Chatting to him really opened my eyes to the difficulties in what are seemed as smaller every day moments, and how they can actually become big hurdles for people with hearing difficulties. 

So when Laura said we’d be jumping out of a plane to raise money and help create awareness for Deaf Awareness Week it struck a cord.  If I can in any way help or contribute toward making just one persons life a little easier with their hearing, and therefore their communication in this wider world, then thats got to be worth flinging myself into the sky from thousands of feet above the earth.

Laura’s story: Firstly, I’ve only just got over the fear of heights and flying at the ripe old age of 37. That said, I am beyond prettified of this mission, but I love a challenge, so take it on head first (literally) I will! 

Secondly, I have worked with DSN on and off now for 12 years. They are a wonderful organisation and despite having been around for 45 years, they are always innovating and looking for new ways to assist in making the deaf and/or blind communities lives so much more independent and fulfilling. 

My first experiences of the deaf and/or blind community was little short of flabbergasting. I had so many questions….how do you navigate Tesco when you can’t see? How do you drive a car if you can’t hear a horn or traffic? If you have to go to the drs and they have bad news, how do take it having to have it interpreted by a complete stranger interpreting BSL? What tin do you know your picking if you can’t see the label? How do you make friends, work…I mean, the list when and continues to go on and on. I find the whole world of sensory loss fascinating. And completely humbling. 

DSN work with people from birth all the way through to death (yes they even have a pot of money for people to have interpreters at funerals because you wouldn’t believe people could pay up to £400 to mourn using BSL!). I’ve seen the lives of families and people completely changed and transformed thanks to the interventions DSN has made and I’m so completely honoured to be working with them to tell the world about what they do. It’s a complete honour.

Earlier this year, I started working in a greater capacity with them, after five happy happy years as their PR manager. DSN raised very little over the past couple of years because of COVID, but like many charities they did everything they could to support D/deaf and/or blind people sat at home in isolation; arranging calls and video calls to do weekly check ins, sending out activity packs, door stop afternoon teas, iPads so BSL users could communicate with their friends…You get the picture.

So this is my attempt to do what I can to show my personal support for this amazing organisation. I hope you know that jumping out of a plane is my biggest fear! But here we are! I knew there was only one person I could ask that would be as fearless and fun to join me…Kat Hannon. There’s no one I’d rather fling myself out of a plane with! Thanks for being a part of my skydive duo! And to you all…Thank you in advance for your support. Even a £1 will help! 

THANK YOU!