This cause is deeply personal to me. My beloved father, Kirtikumar Gheewala, faced the heartbreaking battle against mesothelioma cancer with courage and dignity. Watching him go through that journey changed my life forever. No family should have to experience the pain of this devastating disease without hope. A year after losing my father, our family suffered another heartbreaking loss my niece was also taken from us by this cruel disease.

Mesothelioma is one of the rarest and most devastating cancers. In the UK, around 2,500 people are diagnosed each year. It is caused almost entirely by asbestos exposure often 20 to 50 years before symptoms appear. By the time it is diagnosed, the disease is usually advanced, and tragically, there is currently no cure.

Asbestos was widely used in the UK until it was banned in 1999, and it still remains in many older buildings. Many people diagnosed today were exposed at work, in schools, or even at home completely unaware of the risk.

Behind every diagnosis is a family facing heartbreak

My dad was my biggest supporter. He always pushed me to reach new heights, to be brave, and to never hold back from living life fully. He showed me what strength and resilience truly means, even in the hardest of times. Taking on this parachute jump feels like a way of honoring him quite literally reaching for the skies in his name, just as he always encouraged me to do.

To honor his memory, and to raise awareness and funds for vital research into mesothelioma, I’ve decided to take on a challenge that pushes me far out of my comfort zone: a parachute jump from a plane. Every step of this journey is driven by love for my dad, for the memories we shared, and for everyone still fighting or affected by mesothelioma.

By jumping from 15,000 feet, I hope to raise £100,000 for mesothelioma charities including HASAG. These organisations provide vital research funding, specialist care, emotional support, and guidance to patients and families navigating this diagnosis.

Your support means the world to me. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to better treatments, more hope, and one day, a cure. Together, we can make a difference for families like mine.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing with me in this cause.

With gratitude and love,

Radhika Gheewala