Sheffield Friends Take the Plunge for Support Dogs Charity
Two adventurous friends from Sheffield are preparing to leap from the skies in a bold fundraising effort to support the training of assistance dogs for vulnerable individuals. Ben Prescott, 22, from the Fullwood area of Sheffield, and Wayne McPhail, 38, from Chesterfield, have signed up for a mass Skydiving Day in aid of Support Dogs, a national charity based in Sheffield.
Charity Mission and Personal Connections
Support Dogs specializes in training and providing assistance dogs to help autistic children, as well as those living with epilepsy or physical disabilities, enabling them to lead safer and more independent lives. Wayne, who works as a support worker for the Rainbow Kite Project—an organization assisting people with autism, learning disabilities, and complex needs—explained their motivation.
"We'd wanted to do a skydive after watching I'm a Celebrity, where they jumped out of a helicopter," Wayne said. "I mentioned it as a joke, but Ben took it seriously! He researched and found Support Dogs, which aligns with my work and our love for animals. The charity's impact is fantastic, so we decided to sign up."
Overcoming Fears and Building Excitement
Wayne admitted to feeling anxious about the 10,000-foot drop but is looking forward to the experience. Ben, described as an adrenaline junkie, has already exceeded his £500 fundraising target. "I love the work of Support Dogs as an animal lover," Ben said. "I have a Cockapoo named Ozzy, and dogs are amazing. Training them to help people makes this the perfect charity to support."
The duo, known for their active lifestyle including hikes at Ladybower Reservoir, golfing, pool, ice-skating, gym sessions, and swimming, will be joined by friends and family on the day of the skydive at Langar Airfield in Nottinghamshire on Saturday, May 16.
Community Support and Charity Gratitude
Katie Williamson, community fundraising assistant at Support Dogs, expressed her gratitude: "We can't thank Ben and Wayne enough for joining our Skydiving Day. It offers a great opportunity for those who want to skydive but prefer not to do it alone. Without supporters like them, we couldn't fund the training of our dogs, which transform lives for people with challenging medical conditions."
This event highlights the power of community-driven initiatives in supporting vital causes, combining personal adventure with charitable impact to make a real difference in the lives of those in need.
