A team of ladies taking to the skies to raise cash for a local hospital unit are on a high after bringing in over £17,000 for the cause.
The group are hoping the skydive, which takes place on Thursday, July 9, at Langer Airfield, will help push the fundraising total past the £20k mark.
The girls are raising the cash for Nottingham City Hospital’s stroke unit after it lovingly cared for Evelyn Riekstins – grandmother to group member Nicola Murphy.
Sadly, Evelyn – known as Floss to her family – passed away in 2011, so the fundraising troop has been named ‘Flying for Floss’ in her honour.The skydive caps a year of fundraising success in which members of the local community of Netherfield went above and beyond to raise funds for the cause.
Several fundraising events took place in the town’s pub, It’s Inn The Bank, including quiz nights, hair shaves and fun days. Landlord David Murphy also did a sponsored cycle ride from Skegness to Nottingham to boost funds. A charity football match was also held .
The hospital unit isn’t the first charity the girls have raised money for. In the past they have backed causes including Alzheimer’s Society, Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Macmillan.
Nicola Murphy, landlady of It’s Inn The Bank and one of the chief fundraisers, is delighted by the amount raised so far.
She said: “This has been a massive effort by the community to bring in the amount of sponsorship we have raised and I’d just like to thank everyone for their support.
“For people in a small town to raise so much money for such a good cause is a phenomenal!”
If you want to sponsor the Flying for Floss team, you can find out how at www.justgiving.com/flyingforfloss
