Two women are pushing fear to one side to do a charity sky dive in support of a charity that is helping a work colleague and friend, who has incurable breast cancer.
Sharena Record and Amy Childs, who both work for Enhanced Community Healthcare Options (ECHO) supported living services, will leap from a plane on June 30 in aid of the charity Make 2nds Count.
They are doing the daredevil stunt to say thank you to the charity for supporting their friend and colleague, Anne Blacklock, who is living with secondary breast cancer.
This means the cancer has spread to other parts of Anne’s body and while it can be treated, there is no cure.
ECHO’s customer relationship manager for the Midlands and the North, Anne said: “I am living with secondary breast cancer and Make 2nds Count has provided me access to excellent support.
“Unfortunately, a sky dive is not on the cards for me, but my two wonderful friends and colleagues, Sharena and Amy, are going to jump from a plane to help me support this fantastic cause.”
Sharena, ECHO’s regional operations director for the Midlands, was given the sky dive as a 40th birthday present in 2020 and decided to use it to raise money for Make 2nds Count due to the ‘devastating’ news about Anne’s health.
Amy, who is the company’s clinical support manager, decided to join her in the charity jump and ECHO is supporting the pair by paying the cost of Amy’s skydive.
Sharena said: “Amy and I were both devastated to learn of Anne’s diagnosis.
“Make 2nds Count is providing outstanding support that is making a huge difference to Anne and her family and helping them cope and come to terms with what they are going through.
“We wanted to do something to recognise this magnificent charity and help it continue its amazing work.
“Seeing as I had been bought a skydive as a present by colleagues, including Anne and Amy when we worked at another company, it made sense for it to become a fundraising event.”
Amy then decided she also would like to take part in the 15,000 feet skydive at Langar Airfield, Nottingham.
She said: “Anne, Sharena and I became firm friends working together at other companies.
“We love Anne dearly and we have seen how much Make 2nds Count has helped her through an exceedingly difficult time in her life.
“While apprehensive about doing the skydive, I am determined to do it to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause.”
Andrew Shelton-Murray, Director of ECHO Supported Living Services, said: “Anne is a much-loved colleague and friend and we did not hesitate to lend our support when we heard what Sharena and Amy were planning.”
Emma Hall, head of operations at Make 2nds Count “Hope is one of the most important things we can give those living with secondary breast cancer and their families. We are honoured to have been chosen to benefit from Sharena and Amy’s skydive, fully supported by their employer ECHO Supported Living, allowing us to support more people living with secondary breast cancer and provide hope that we can do something positive for patients through helping to finance research into secondary breast cancer. From everyone at Make 2nds Count good luck!”
ECHO supports people with autism and learning disabilities and Sharena and Amy hope to invite some of its service users along to watch them jump from the plane.
Make 2nds Count is dedicated to making people living with secondary breast cancer count by raising funds to support specialist research into this form of cancer, extending and improving the quality of life for patients battling against this treatable, but incurable disease.
ENDS
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF ENHANCED COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE OPTIONS
ECHO Supported Living Services supports people with learning disabilities, autism, complex behaviour and mental ill-health to live as independently as possible. The aim is to provide safe and supportive care that promotes empowerment, independence and choice, whilst enhancing service users daily living skills, enabling individuals to live effectively in their community.
Enhanced Community Healthcare Options (ECHO) provides specialist residential care services with nursing and supported living services for adults with a learning disability and other complex needs such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, mental health needs or physical conditions
Contact: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436
