Hearts of gold, nerves of steel: eight nurses skydive to support cancer patients

A Christie nurse from Ashton-under-Lyne has taken part in a charity skydive to raise money to support patients at The Christie hospital.

A brave and determined group of cancer nurses took to the skies for a fundraising skydive to raise money to support the patients they treat at The Christie hospital in Manchester where they all work.

The team - made up of eight nurses who care for some of the most unwell cancer patients at The Christie - included both newly qualified staff and experienced senior nurses.

“We all have the privilege of caring for cancer patients - many of whom come to us very unwell or experiencing complications from treatment,” says the organiser, Sarah Plent, ages 23: "It's a challenging environment, but also incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that truly makes a difference. That's why I convinced everyone to do the skydive together!"

Sarah skydived alongside Rasleen Sharma (22) and Rhiana Smith (23) who, like Sarah, all live in Manchester city centre. Rasleen and Rhiana moved to Manchester from London and Carlisle, respectively, to study nursing and recently qualified. Other team members included nurses Grace Maxwell (27) from Ashton-under-Lyne, Abbie Gunton (28) who lives in Withington, Natasha Rodway Studds (27) from Macclesfield who works as a sister on the ward, and ward manager Catherine Clarke (46), who lives in Didsbury.

And for final team member Karyn Cocozza (53) - originally from County Wicklow in Ireland - the challenge was particularly personal, as she explains: “I did it to raise funds for The Christie Charity because I want to support our patients and patient care,” she says. “As well as working in our amazing AAU (acute assessment unit), I was also a patient myself at The Christie in 2019 receiving treatment for breast cancer. My family carries the BRCA gene, as I do, so it’s a cause that’s very close to my heart.”

“Every day we see the courage and resilience that our patients show when undergoing treatment. What we did is nothing compared to that, but if we can raise awareness and funds to make life a little bit easier for these patients and to give them the opportunity to access groundbreaking treatment, trials and technology, then we are more than happy and proud to do our bit.

“The Christie Charity does so much to improve the care and treatment opportunities available to our patients – above and beyond what the NHS funds. This was our way of giving something back.”

The skydive took place on Saturday 10 May at the Black Knights Parachute Centre, Lancaster in Lancashire.

The nurses’ fundraising page is still open at: https://www.justgiving.com/team/nursesjumpforchristie

To support the work of The Christie Charity, please go to Donate today (christie.nhs.uk) or ring 0161 446 3988.

The Christie Charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education, and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.

Rasleen, Rhiana and Abbie. Credit: The Christie