Fundraiser Took Challenge to New Heights

Dare devil, Debbie White, 50, from Warwickshire, took her fundraising challenge to new heights, as she completed a skydive, to celebrate her milestone 50 birthday.

Debbie secured a team of 30 fundraisers who jumped the 13,000ft tandem sky dive at Hinton Airfield, Brackley, on Friday 24 April. The team raised vital funds for Fight for Sight, the UK’s leading eye research charity that funds pioneering eye research to prevent sight loss and treat eye disease.

Fight for Sight is a charity close to Debbie’s heart having been a crucial member of the Warwickshire committee for the past 20 years. Debbie has raised a significant amount of money to help support Fight for Sight’s mission, to create a future that everyone can see.

Debbie, who was diagnosed with usher syndrome 40 years ago, knows first-hand the devastating effects of sight loss. This rare genetic disorder, which also affects her younger brother, Adrian, causes hearing impairment and progressive vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa. Debbie also has cataracts forming and astigmatism of the eye.

Debbie, who works at Hy-Kleen of Warwick Limited said: “I wanted to do something memorable for my milestone birthday, so I decided to do a sky dive to help raise funds for Fight for Sight. It’s a fantastic charity that funds pioneering eye research and with more funds, it takes us a step closer to one day stopping people losing their sight.”

The charity sky dive is just one of the many events that Debbie has organised over the past decades. The annual Warwickshire golf day also celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and raised over £18,000. The 2015 golf day took place at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club on 1 July.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations Debbie pledged to raise £20k for Fight for Sight and smashed her target, raising £28k. She continues her fundraising mission for Fight for Sight.

Catherine Woodhead, Director of Fundraising at Fight for Sight: “A huge thank you to Debbie for her efforts and going above and beyond. It took huge courage to jump out of a plane but Debbie has shown courage with her sight loss, which can have a devastating effect on people’s lives. Thank you to everyone who is took part in the event. We hope Debbie had a very happy Fight for Sight birthday!”

To support Debbie’s sky diving mission please donate by texting FFSD50 £(amount up to £10) to 70070 or donate via www.justgiving.com/Debs50Skydive

Film courtesy of SEIKO Optical UK and Belly Flop Production.

Full list of sky divers: Alistair Adam, Darren Millar Smith, David Webley, Debs Wall, Debbie White, Eddie Talbot, Gemma Knibb, Hayley Olds, Ian Flower, Jeff LanduccI, Jonny Morey, Julie Purser, Kylee Smith, Luke Duggan, Mark Duggan, Mark Page, Maureen Houston, Mawson Chipchase, Nelson Hawkes, Nicola Woodhouse, Rob Purser, Simon Damm, Tim Rogers, Tom Ivers, Thomas Parker, Tom Russell, Wendy Draper, Yvette Vincent, Zoe Ireland