Hayling Island resident Debbie McIlroy normally has her feet firmly on the ground but she has just volunteered for a skydive challenge for the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF), who has its national headquarters on Hayling Island.
Debbie will be leaping from 15,000ft in the charity skydive on 21st May. If you are interested then please get in touch with Claire Levy community fund raiser at DRWF on 02392 636138 or email fundraising@drwf.org.uk.
Debbie said: “It all seemed such a great idea when I heard about it at the Christmas lunch for Hayling Island networking group ‘Ladies who Latte’. Actually it’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to the exhilarating jump.”
This will be the third year DRWF has organised the tandem skydive, with some fund-raisers returning each year, raising over £11,000 from the three previous skydives.
DRWF CEO Sarah Tutton said “We provide information and support to help people to self-manage their condition, including our ever populate annual Diabetes Wellness Day on July 22nd at The Solent Hotel, Whiteley. The Sky’s the limit!”
The Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation (DRWF) is a registered charity, established in 1998 to raise public awareness to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, associated complications, treatment, avoidance and relief and to provide support to people living with diabetes. Whilst funding diabetes research we aim to ensure that people are ‘staying well until a cure is found...’
In the past 15 years the UK has seen the number of people diagnosed with diabetes almost double, and this continues to rise rapidly. More than one in 20 of the population now lives with diabetes and it is estimated that there will be 5 million people affected by 2025.