Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Hi, my names Laura, I'm 25 years old and I work for the NHS as a Paramedic. I'm trying to raise awareness for world mental health day which is on the 10th October 2020, the day I face my fears and jump out of a plane. I also want to bring awareness to online trolling, hate and cyberbullying as I share my story with you all. 

As a Paramedic working on the front line and somebody with a large following on social media, it means I spend a lot of my time in the public eye which can be challenging and sometimes very difficult. I made quite a lot of coverage in the press as "the paramedic who received hateful comments for wearing make up to work". Since then, I have also received a huge amount of praise and admiration from the public who I can not thank enough but it always seems to be the hateful comments I pay attention to the most. 

I have spent a lot of my evenings doubting myself feeling upset and worthless over the comments from people who have never met me. The trolls took my confidence and happiness for a some time and I began to suffer with depression. I felt as though no matter how good of a person I tried to be or how much I try and be my authentic self, I was never good enough and there was always something to be picked at.  

I woke up one day and decided that enough was enough and I needed to use this experience I had with online trolls and turn it into something positive as that's always what I've done when life turns sour. I began searching for online charities and came across The Cybersmile foundation who I instantly fell in love with. 

I have arranged to do a Skydive to raise money for this charity who helps people who have been targeted to online bullying, hateful comments and trolling like myself. I never want anyone to experience or go through what I did.  

I am doing this jump for anyone who has felt like they,re not good enough as a result of social media. I am petrified of heights and I do not like flying so I am really facing my fears although I am hoping by doing this, I make the world a little bit of a better place. 

In a world where we can be anything, be kind.