Daring staff of East Yorkshire school plan skydive for Dove House Hospice

A conversation about fundraising has led to a group of staff from an East Yorkshire school planning to throw themselves out of a plane.

The staff members of Beverley Grammar School (BGS) will take to the skies in July in aid of Dove House Hospice, which is the school’s chosen charity for this year. One of their number is Laura Mulligan, a teacher of engineering and the school’s charity and fundraising co-ordinator.

Laura said: “As a school we have selected Dove House Hospice as our chosen charity for the academic year 2023/24. Dove House has been in and spoken with all our boys about the work the hospice does in the East Riding.

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“The school has a committee of six students, who meet regularly with me to plan and execute different fundraising activities. The skydive is just one of many.

“Our target for the year is £8,000 and we are well underway, having already raised £2,700.”

The team's tandem skydive will take place on Saturday, July 6. The school has organised their fundraising so that people can sponsor individual members of the courageous skydiving crew, which includes Richard Valentine, biology teacher; Laura Mulligan, engineering teacher; Robert Ward, learning support assistant; Samantha Martin, head of RE and Sarah Caddell, head of maths.

“We are asking any parents, carers, friends of BGS, ex-students or local businesses to dig deep and get behind these daring individuals by donating to our team JustGiving page,” said Laura. The JustGiving page says: “Imagine standing at the edge of an open doorway in an aircraft flying at 10,000ft - the noise of the engines and the wind ringing in your ears with only the outline of distant fields below.

“Now imagine leaning forward out of that doorway and letting go - falling forward into the clouds, diving down through the air as you start free falling at over 120mph while harnessed to a professional freefall parachute instructor! Then imagine the peace and quiet as the canopy opens, the steering toggles come down either side of you and you begin a tranquil parachute descent from a mile up in the air, steering yourself back down to the centre of the drop zone below.

“Six brave BGS staff stopped imagining and made it a reality by signing up to be part of a team doing something amazing for Dove House Hospice on Saturday, July 6 2024. If you wish to support these individuals in hitting a whopping £2,700 target, scan the QR code and choose a staff member to support.”