A student from Huddersfield is raising money for Kirkwood Support Life by an act of extreme courage in memory of her late grandmother.
On Sunday, Leah Bushby and her dad took a great leap at 15,000 feet (about half the height of Mount Everest) to raise funds in support of Kirkwood Support Life. Leah, 21, said she had no fear once she was in the air “The skydive was simply the best experience of my life and the feeling cannot be put into words… I would do it again in a heartbeat”. She described the dive as “the most surreal feeling” and took it at the highest legal UK height.
Leah says, “The Kirkwood are and always will be very special to myself and my family after the amazing care they gave to my grandma in December 2022, who is dearly loved and missed”. The Kirkwood say that they are built on support, from the support of donors and public, to the support they provide to patients and their families. Previously known as Kirkwood Hospice, Kirkwood Support Life provides dedicated care to all those affected by a life-limiting illness. They provide a wide range of services from in-patient care to community palliative care, spiritual care and resources for patients and carers. Alongside support and therapy by The Kirkwood Counselling Team which provide both pre-bereavement and post-bereavement care, offering support to loved ones after the passing of the patient.
“The work they do at the Kirkwood deserves all the recognition they get, and I will find ways to support them for the rest of my life”. Leah isn’t alone in her efforts to support the hospice and they rely on people like her to keep their doors open. Data for the financial year ending 31 March 2022 revealed that approximately 53% of income was brought in by donations, legacies and charitable activities. If jumping out of planes really isn’t your thing, there are all kinds of ways that people can help, the hospice currently has around 800 volunteers that dedicate a total of 120,000 hours each year and they say: “We simply couldn’t do it without them!”. Several events are also hosted annually, including a calendar competition, a charity golf day and Memory Walks, or you could simply pay a visit to one of the charity shops and have a shopping spree.
