Juliet Pull and Lois Crispin were part of an eight strong team from the Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa who did a sponsored skydive for Macmillan Caring Locally’s Brick by Brick Appeal
After two former attempts were cancelled due to bad weather, a brave band of hotel staff have at last launched themselves out of a plane for charity.
The intrepid crew from the Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa in Wick Road, Christchurch took the plunge as part of their continuing fundraising efforts for Macmillan Caring Locally.
Macmillan Caring Locally (which is not part of the national Macmillan charity), funds the Macmillan Unit, which was built in the grounds of Christchurch Hospital in 1974 and now supports more than 1,600 patients with life-limiting illnesses each year.
The charity has launched the Brick by Brick appeal to replace the now outdated unit with a state-of-the-art, specialist, palliative care unit.
The appeal has already raised £5m towards the project, but still needs to raise a further £6m.
The Captain’s Club is a committed supporter of Macmillan Caring Locally, running annual events including its popular Great Big Coffee Morning and Christmas Shopping event.
In 2017, the hotel joined forces with the local Second Smile Project to raise £25,000 to fund a coffee lounge in the new unit, so relatives and visitors can escape reality for a moment with a good cup of coffee.
-The daring skydive looks set to plunge almost £7000 into the appeal coffers.
Jump organiser Juliet Pull, Guest Relations Manager at the hotel said: “The jump was truly incredible – although it did take a long time to happen – over six months in fact!
“We first tried to do it in October 2018, but the wind suddenly got up, so it was postponed.
“We rearranged, but the weather again wasn’t on our side!
“Third time lucky came on June 6th when we finally got the green light.
“It was certainly worth the wait as the weather was amazing and visibility was second-to-none.”
Along with Juliet were team members: Lois Crispin, Events co-ordinator, Kelly Neel, Deputy Head Receptionist, Abi Turner, Restaurant Supervisor, Michael Dettori, Restaurant Host, Sam Wickens, Conference Operations Manager, Josh Churchill, Pastry Chef and Richard Putterford, Accounts Controller.
Juliet continued: “All the skydive crew support our annual coffee morning for MCL and the Christmas Shopping Event and when I suggested a skydive they jumped at the chance – excuse the pun.
“Most of us know of someone who has been cared for by the Macmillan Caring Locally unit. It does a fantastic job and we are immensely proud to be able to support it.”
Lin Sharp, the charity’s Capital Appeal Director said: “We can’t thank the team at the Captain’s Club enough for their continued support – and in this case their patience and out and out bravery!”
To donate to the Brick by Brick Appeal visit: www.macmillanlocal.org
Media information from Debbie Granville at Deep South Media on 07884 657782 email: Debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Information for Editors.
While the NHS funds core services at the Macmillan Unit, a significant proportion of its funding comes from the Macmillan Caring Locally charity, thanks to the generosity of the local community.
MCL’s volunteers also carry out a multitude of services from patient transport and fundraising to end of life and respite visits.
