Fife teenager’s leap of faith to celebrate her recovery from cancer

Jade and pal raise hundreds from bungee jump in aid of LoveOliver

A Fife teenager celebrated two years cancer-free, and her birthday, by braving a bungee jump.

Jade Dowie, of Glenrothes, leaped 132ft with her best friend Jasmine Doyle, who was by her side throughout her battle with leukaemia.

Their daring endeavour on Jade’s 19th birthday raised more than £620 for children’s cancer charity LoveOliver, for which Jasmine, 18, is an ambassador.

Jade, a student vet nurse at SRUC Elmwood, underwent two years of treatment and a bone marrow transplant after her diagnosis in 2016.

LoveOliver, which funds research into childhood cancer and supports families of children with cancer, was among the organisations which helped her during her illness.

The tandem leap at Killiecrankie, in Perthshire, was part of a series of fundraisers Jade and Jasmine have undertaken for LoveOliver.

Knowing she was giving back to the charity which eased the trauma for her and her parents during her time in hospital gave her the courage to leap as friends and family watched.

She said: “Jasmine and I were really scared but we were doing it for LoveOliver. We could hear everyone cheering us on.”

She was delighted to have raised so much money for LoveOliver, set up in memory of baby Oliver Gill who died of a rare and aggressive form of cancer on Christmas Day 2010.

Instead of birthday presents, Jade asked people to donate to the cause, which is run by Oliver’s parents, Jennifer and Andy, of Leven.

The multi-award-winning charity funds a PhD student at Newcastle University researching childhood cancer.

It also supports families of young people being treated for cancer at the children’s hospitals in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It works closely with CLIC Sargent social workers to provide supermarket vouchers, ready meals, financial grants and gift packs for children and teenagers.

LoveOliver also donates games, books, toys, craft material and therapy supplies to the three oncology wards.

Jade Dowie, left, and best friend Jasmine Doyle undertook the bungee jump at Killiecrankie.

Jade and Jasmine during the jump which raised more than £620 for the charity LoveOliver, which funds research into childhood cancer and which helped Jade during her battle with leukaemia.