Two friends from Bristol fulfilled a lifelong ambition to skydive before turning 50 and 40, raising more than £7,800 for Muscular Dystrophy UK. Kelly Rees, 49, and Mark Coles, 39, completed the tandem jump on Saturday, August 8, at Perranporth in Cornwall, joined by 18 friends.
Both were inspired by their younger brothers who have or had Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Kelly jumped in memory of her brother Nicky, who died in 1995 aged 16, while Mark jumped in support of his brother Mitchell, in his early 30s, who lives with the same condition.
Charity Skydive for Muscular Dystrophy UK
The group skydive was organised to raise funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy UK, a charity supporting people with muscle-wasting conditions. Kelly said: “I'm turning 50 at the end of this year, and for a long time, I've wanted to do a skydive for Muscular Dystrophy UK in memory of my little brother. One day, I mentioned it to my friend Mark - he loved the idea, so we booked it there and then!”
Mark's brother Mitchell lives with the same muscle-wasting condition as Kelly's brother Nicky, making the cause deeply personal for both. Kelly added: “His brother Mitchell lives with the same muscle-wasting condition my brother Nicky had, so we knew the day would be for them.”
Personal Motivation and Family History
Kelly's brother Nicky was not the only family member affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy; two cousins were also diagnosed around the same time, leading Kelly's mum and aunt to discover they were carriers. Kelly recalled: “Before that time, no one in the family had ever heard of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Growing up, I didn't really think about the condition - Nicky was just my little brother.”
She described Nicky as “very intelligent, mature, strong and positive” despite the pain and challenges of living with a disability. She shared a poignant memory: “He said to me: 'You see that bright star in the sky? That will be me looking down on you.'”
Raising Awareness and Funds
Kelly emphasised the importance of fundraising for research into new treatments and a potential cure. She said: “I really hope that one day there will be a cure for future generations. But it's also important to raise awareness and improve understanding. Back in the 90s, there was no thought for disabilities. Nicky, and all of us in the family, were on the receiving end of cruel comments and judgement.”
Mark added: “Kelly and I have both seen first-hand how cruel Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be. I'm lucky enough to still have my brother Mitchell here, and he's beating all the odds to this day, but some families are not so lucky and lose loved ones at such an early age.”
The team's fundraising efforts included overcoming a weight limit challenge. When they booked the jump in January, four team members needed to lose weight to participate. Danny, Mark, and Seb each lost around a stone, while Ashley lost 11kg. Mark said: “We're so proud and thankful for all their hard work, and grateful to everyone who has donated to this special cause in support of my brother Mitchell and in memory of Kelly's brother Nicky.”
Donations can still be made via the GoFundMe page, and more information about Muscular Dystrophy UK is available on their website.
