Dominique goes to new heights for charity
ARUNCORN mother-oftwo who lost her sister to bowel cancer has thrown herself from an aeroplane at 11,500ft to raise cash for North West Cancer Research (NWCR).
Daredevil Dominique Hare undertook the assisted freefall in memory of sibling Adrienne Blumenthal who passed away in 2014 aged 46.
She also honoured the life of her husband’s late aunt who battled with lung cancer for four-and-a-half years.
Dominique, who also works for NWCR as a research officer, raised more than £750.
The 37-year-old, originally from Johannesburg in South Africa, has already received sponsorship from several businesses.
A North West Cancer Research spokeswoman said the charity has committed to funding more than £12.3m of research over the next five years – £8.1m of which will be spent on research based at University Of Liverpool.
Cash raised will support projects such as a three-year examination of the role of the HPV virus in head and neck cancers and a clinical trial to boost treatment of bile duct cancer.
The spokeswoman said it will also fund the next generation of research scientists.
North West Cancer Research funds 16 PhD studentships at the University Of Liverpool as well as seven intercalating students who will begin their placements in August this year.
Dominique said: “Losing my sister a month after she was diagnosed with cancer was an extremely hard time for me and the family.
“It all happened so suddenly and she was back in South Africa, so it felt like I didn’t get enough of a chance to say good bye – although no amount of time could ever prepare you for the loss.
“Then last year we lost Christine to lung cancer, which was absolutely devastating for all of us.
“I work with people who have been affected by cancer every day, but when someone close to you is diagnosed, it is the most awful feeling in the world.
“I wanted to do something meaningful for them and for all of the other family and friends we have lost and everyone who is still fighting. We get lots of fundraisers for the charity doing amazing things like marathons, trekking up mountains and walking thousands of miles, but I had never found that one challenge I felt I could do.
“I still can’t believe I’ve actually jumped out of a plane – I honestly never thought I could be that daring. It was my work mates who signed me up so I didn’t really have much choice to back out, plus my husband would never let me!
“Thank you to everyone for their generous donations and their support before and on the day.
“Despite being nervous at first, it was great fun and the perfect way for me to honour my sister, family and friends.”
To donate to Dominique’s skydive visit www.justgiving. com/Dominique-Hare