Charity sky dive for Nobber Cancer Support Group takes place this weekend

This weekend will see a group of 20 brave men and women take to the skies in Edenderry to undertake a charity sky dive in aid Nobber Cancer Support Group.

On Saturday, they will face their fears as they jump out of an aeroplane to support a local charity that has helped so many families from Nobber and the surrounding parishes as they face into a cancer journey.

The skydive has been organised by Derek Gaffney, whose eight-year-old son Cayden is among the many people who Nobber Cancer Support Group has helped in the six years since it was founded.

Derek and his wife Jean will be among those doing the jump. Bridget Cunnigham, a founding member of the charity, who lost her adored brother Kenneth Weldon to cancer in 2022, is also part of the group.

The others taking the plunge include Cian Murray, Jamie Murray, Larry Fay, Denise Commins, Suzanne Dillon, Claire Taggart, Anne Marie Cassidy, Sarah Weldon, Adam Smith, Amy Lang, Kevin Kieran, Peter Kieran, Barry Fitzpatrick, Tom Lambe, Tony Finegan, Michael Doherty and Abigail Mallon.

Bridget has openly admitted being terrified of heights but says that when she thought of her late brother Kenneth and all those who face cancer without any choice, she decided that if jumping out of a plane helped even one person facing a cancer journey, then she would do it.

Nobber Cancer Support Group covers a wide area beyond the village of Nobber, also supporting people from Castletown, Kilmainhamwood, Carlanstown, Moynalty, Drumconrath and Meath Hill. Generally, this support involves covering the cost of transport to and from treatment, taking away some of the stress.

Fundraising is absolutely vital to keeping the service going and NCSG is lucky to have great support in the local community and many of those who the group has helped have in turn done fundraisers to show their appreciation and help others who may be facing into their own cancer battle.

Bridget said: "When Derek asked me to do the parachute jump, my first instinct was to say no — I’m terrified of heights. But then I thought about my brother Kenneth, about Cayden, and about every person who faces cancer with no warning, no choice, and no control.

"They don’t get the option to step back from fear — they have to face it head on. I’m lucky enough to be fit and well, and I do have a choice. So if taking a leap out of a plane helps raise funds, awareness, and hope for even one family, then fear isn’t a reason to stop — it’s the very reason to jump."

Kenneth would have turned 50 on 16th March, and this also helped spur Bridget on in doing her fundraiser, a sad and poignant way to mark what would have been his milestone birthday while helping raise funds for other families dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

Read more about Bridget's story here - 'If leaping out of a plane helps even one family, then fear isn't a reason to stop'

To support Bridget and Nobber Cancer Support Group you can make a donation on her idonate page 'Bridget Cunningham's Parachute Jump' .