WATCH: Caithness mother's skydive raises £11,500 for Glasgow Children's Hospital
A charity skydive by a Caithness mother has raised £11,500 for the Glasgow Children's Hospital which treated her daughter who has chronic kidney disease.
Susan Andrew from Thurso made the jump at the St Andrews airfield in Glenrothes on Saturday and described the experience as "amazing."
The 39-year-old primary school supply teacher decided to fund-raise for the hospital after her seven-year-old daughter Lois had an operation there in March. The youngster also spent six weeks in the hospital last summer.
Susan, who was "absolutely astounded" by the amount she raised, said: "Lots of people asked if I was scared but I genuinely wasn’t, just really excited to do it.
"I would do 100 skydives if it meant Lois didn’t have to have her kidney issues or have any operations.
"I definitely find physical challenges much easier than the emotional ones that I’ve had in life. I gave birth to a baby girl, Lydia, in 2014 who didn’t make it. We also nearly lost Lois when she was born which gave us our first experience with the Glasgow hospital."
She added: "Often when we are in the hospital, we’ve seen families where this is their normal life. Children who talk to the doctors and nurses as family as they’ve been in so often and may be on their 10th operation or those who might have to come in weekly for dialysis. I love that I know exactly where this money is going and how it will help the children and their families – families who just want to see their children healthy and happy."
Lois has to go back to the Glasgow hospital in June to get her feeding tube changed, said Susan.
Asked if she would do another skydive, she replied: "I would definitely do it again. It was amazing. You feel like a bird. The best bit was coming out the plane and free falling. It was good."
Initially, she wanted to raise £500 and was delighted with the figure she achieved. "I’m absolutely astounded and so incredibly thankful to everyone who has given, large or small amounts."
Susan, who has previously abseiled, done a run and a canoe trip for charity, made the tandem jump from 10,000 feet with a qualified instructor and was falling at 120mph through the air. She said the fundraiser is "a small way of saying thank you and to help others have the quality of care and support we received."
Susan stays in Thurso with her husband, Stuart, and two children, Ethan (11) and Lois. The family travelled south to watch her doing the skydive.
