‘Humbled’ teenager Jess to skydive from 15,000ft for charity
Fifteen-year-old is raising funds for the Huntington’s Disease Association
A 15-year-old fundraising champion is preparing to skydive from 15,000ft to raise money for a cause close to her heart.
Jess Webb, who lives in Emsworth, is set to face the sponsored challenge on June 6.
She will be raising funds for the Huntington’s Disease Association, a charity that is important to Jess as she has sadly lost two family members to the disease - her grandad, who passed away in 2008, and her uncle Andrew, who died in 2017.
Jess said: ‘My uncle Andrew did a skydive in aid of Huntington’s
Disease in around 2008, so I feel humbled that I am able to participate too!’
Jess will jump from a height of 15,000ft, the highest a tandem skydive can be in the UK.
She said: ‘Currently I am very excited and I am hoping to raise lots of awareness and funds for such an important cause so I am eager for it to happen.
‘No nerves yet, but I’m sure they will come nearer the time.
‘It is something I have been wanting to do for years so I am super excited!’
This is not the first time Jess has raised money for Huntington’s Disease, having gathered £12,310 in donations since the age of 10 by holding events such as bike rides, a sponsored silence, and an auction and dinner dance. She was given a Diana Award in 2019 for her work.
Mum Sarah Webb said: ‘Jess just blows us away, so much of it she does on her own - she organises everything herself, does all the phone calls, it’s quite amazing.
‘We are extremely proud of her and in awe of how dedicated she is to the charity.
Jess had several fundraising events planned for 2020, including a charity football match and a supercar track day at Goodwood.
She said: ‘I was hoping to smash £20,000 before March 21, 2020, my 16th birthday.
‘However due to lockdown these events have had to be cancelled or postponed.’
Despite these disappointments, Jess is determined to keep raising money for the cause and is now preparing for the tandem skydive, which will take place in Salisbury this summer.
Jess said: ‘It has been very tough being brought up around Huntington’s Disease.
‘I raise funds so families can get the support and equipment needed.’
Although her current goal is £495 Jess says that she would love to raise even more, and also hopes that her skydive will increase awareness of the disease.
Jess says that she is inspired by her ‘hero’ granny, who was a carer for her grandad and uncle when they needed full time support and looked after them both for about 20 years combined.
Sarah said: ‘Jess has got a big heart and she could see how it affected the family.
‘Now she wants to help other families and raise awareness.’
To find out more, or to donate, visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/jess-webb7.
It is something I have been wanting to do for years so I am super excited.
Jess Webb
TEACHERS at Titchfield Primary School have made a dance video to help welcome children back after lockdown.
Teaching and support staff at the Fareham school can be seen dancing their way from the school gates and through the various classrooms as welcome back signs are held up to the camera.
Conscious that some children were nervous and apprehensive about returning to school the staff decided to make the video to remind children of the school environment and to let them ‘see some friendly faces’.
The dance video, which was posted on the school’s Facebook page, was the idea of Year 5 teacher Nicky Beacher who said: ‘Eight weeks is a long time to be out of school and we know some children are nervous about returning. We wanted the children to be able to see the staff, hopefully put a smile on their faces and put them at ease for returning after lockdown.
‘We are really looking forward to the children returning and the video lets them see how excited we are.’
The song ‘All in this Together’ from High School Musical was chosen as the ‘ideal’ song to choreograph the dance to.
Nicky said: ‘It was the perfect choice as it sums up that we are all coming back to school together and want to start getting back to normal. Lockdown has been super hard for children and staff. I have had enough of teaching online – nothing can compensate for being in the classroom.’
It’s a sentiment shared by deputy headteacher Seb Olway who added: ‘We have done our best to make things as fun as possible but remote learning has run its course. Now is the right time for children to return both for their learning and mental wellbeing.’
Despite having only two hundred pupils at the school the video post has attracted over 6,000 views.
Mr Olway added: ‘I think this shows just how supportive people are of getting children back to school.’