Guide Dogs means so much to me, and this year I’m taking on something big to support the incredible work they do — a tandem skydive!

We will be skydiving with the Army Parachute Association on September 19th, 2026.

To make it even more of a challenge, I’ll experience all initial stages and the journey up in the plane blindfolded, with my dad, Mark, guiding me. It’s my way of stepping, even briefly, into the world of a person with sight loss.

Why I’m Doing It

I’m part of the Eastleigh Fundraising Group for Guide Dogs, and I’m also soon to be Deputy Group Coordinator for the Guide Dogs Southampton Fundraising Group. Through this volunteering, I’ve met incredible people and seen first-hand how much freedom, confidence and independence these beautiful dogs bring to those living with sight loss.

As a free‑spirited person who loves exploring, moving and experiencing the world around me, I often think about how different life would feel if I had to adapt to doing all the things I enjoy ( dancing, sailing, paddleboarding, to name a few) without sight. Experiencing the world and joy differently, relying on others, a mobility aid and/ or a guide dog to help navigate and experience the world.

That’s why the blindfolded part of this challenge matters. Those moments in the plane, unable to see and relying entirely on my dad’s voice and guidance, will be a small but powerful reminder of the trust people with sight loss place in their guide dogs every single day.

The truth is, I can’t fully imagine what it’s like to be blind or visually impaired. I can only guess that it requires immense trust in others, in yourself, and in the dog guiding you. In many ways, this challenge mirrors that feeling. Stepping out of a plane blindfolded is a literal leap of faith, and I’m doing it to honour the courage of those who take leaps of faith every single day.

How Your Support Helps

My fundraising target is £2,500 — the amount needed to name a guide dog puppy. Hitting that goal means I’ll get to give a future guide dog their very first name… and that puppy could one day change someone’s life.

Every donation helps support a guide dog’s journey from tiny pup to fully trained partner. Even the smallest amount makes a real difference:

Feed a puppy — 80p feeds a puppy or qualified guide dog for a day

Microchip a puppy — £3 keeps a puppy safe for life

Support a working partnership — £8 supports a guide dog team for a day

Buy essential kit — £8 for a collar, £15 for a leather lead, £16 for a ‘puppy in training’ jacket

Provide the iconic harness — £26 buys the white harness that symbolises independence

Fund training — £29 pays for an hour of specialist training

Cover health checks — £60 funds a vet eye check

Support puppy raisers — £80 buys a puppy raising kit

Equip a new partnership — £141 provides a starter kit for a new guide dog team

Help bring puppies into the world — £885 buys a birthing kit for a guide dog mum

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. Your support means the world to me. Every donation helps someone living with sight loss experience more freedom, confidence and joy.