Together they raised over £2,250 to support our communities
A team of dedicated Mersey Care staff members recently took to the skies to raise funds to support people and services across Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Michael Rout, Tilstock Airfield
Corporate Business Manager, Michael Rout took the giant leap from 10,000 feet over Tilstock Airfield in Whitchurch, Shropshire last weekend after multiple postponements due to the weather. He was the final Mersey Care employee to complete the high-octane challenge, joining Rachael Marsh (Capital Projects Estates Manager), Naomi Lloyd (Trainee Estates Officer) and Eleanor Booth (Mental Health Practitioner) who completed the challenge in May during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Speaking after his skydive, which raised an incredible £945 for our charity, Michael said:
“Throwing myself out of a plane was never something I had planned to do, but when the opportunity arose to support Mersey Cares, I took the leap.
I am grateful to everyone who sponsored me to do this, without their generosity I wouldn’t have dared do something this daft!”
Eleanor, who signed up for the skydive to "give something back" during Mental Health Awareness Week, described the experience as "probably the best thing I've ever done."
"I was really nervous at first, particularly when going up in the plane, but as soon as I was back on the ground I wanted to do it again! It was also great to tell all of the staff at the airfield about Mersey Cares and what it is all about."
On the day of Naomi and Rachael's dive, there was uncertainty about whether it would proceed as planned. Thunderstorms were forecast for the afternoon, and as time passed, grey skies began to gather overhead. The colleagues were among the last divers scheduled for the day, and against the odds, they managed to jump during a brief break in the clouds. Just moments after they landed, the heavens opened, and torrential rain pelted the airfield - only adding to the day's excitement and sense of adventure.
For Naomi, this dive was a bucket-list dream. She was the first staff member to sign up after we announced the challenge. Reflecting on her experience, she said:
"The day was truly amazing from the start. Watching others complete their skydive and seeing how thrilled they looked made it all the more exciting!
With the weather being hit and miss we were unsure if we would be able to complete the dive, but we were lucky enough to find a small break in the clouds for us to go up. Being up in the air was the best part, you go into a zone and the free-falling feeling was truly something out of this world!
The fact that between us we were able to raise funds for Mersey Cares made it even more worth while. I'm proud to say I have completed this challenge on behalf of the Trust I work for in support of their great services."
A heartfelt thank-you
We want to say a huge thank you to Naomi, Eleanor, Rachael and Michael for taking part in our first Mersey Care sky dive and to everyone who donated to support them. The grand total exceeded £2, 250 which will help bring life to projects that tackle health inequalities, challenge stigma and support our mental health, community and socially focussed services to do more beyond the scope of the NHS.
Pictured: Naomi Lloyd's tandem sky dive at Whitchurch Airfield
Fancy a Mersey Cares Fundraising Challenge?
If you'd like to take part in a Mersey Cares fundraising challenge, we have plenty to choose from. From running events and walking challenges to abseils and a seasonal Santa dash - take a look at our programme of events! We add to it all the time so be sure to check back regularly to see what's on offer.
We also offer charity dives all year-round, so if it's on your bucket list and you'd like to dive for Mersey Cares we would love to hear from you!
Wirral 10K (13 October) - Starting at Ian Fraser Walk, New Brighton, the circular flat course offers stunning Liverpool skyline views.
BTR 5K Winter Series - A trio of 5k events including 'Autumn Leaves', 'Bonfire Blast' and 'Winter Trail'.
Mersey Cares Sky Dive - Opportunities available all-year round. Choose from 17 different locations across the UK and a date that suits you.
BTR Liverpool Santa Dash (December 1st) - Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic Liverpool Santa Dash by dressing up in a Santa suit and raising funds for charity!
