TWO daring Co-op funeral directors working in Cornwall and West Devon have completed a charitable skydive.
Katie-Sarah Willing and Tristan Stubbs, who look after Co-op Funeralcare sites, jumped from a plane 10,000 feet up in aid of the mental health charity Mind.
The two brave people completed the jump - which included a free fall at 120mph - as part of a £1,000 fundraising initiative.
They each jumped holding onto an instructor in tandem. The jump and instructors were provided by the Cornish Parachute Club at St Agnes Airfield.
Katie-Sarah and Tristan chose the charity because of the link with their jobs, having witnessed the effect of bereavement on mental health.
They both gained strength from the charity’s approach which seeks to help people going through a hard time by supporting them in overcoming barriers and finding strength at difficult times.
Their own courage has impressed givers who have so far boosted their Just Giving page, exceeding the initial fundraising goal, to over £1.3k in donations from friends, family and locals from communities across Tavistock, Launceston and Okehampton.
Tristan, funeral director at the Co-op Funeralcare in Tavistock, said: ‘As funeral directors, we work closely with people going through some of the most difficult times in their lives. We know how challenging bereavement can be - especially given the longer-lasting impact grief can have on someone’s mental health.’
He added: ‘I think it’s safe to say that Katie-Sarah and I were both quite nervous about the idea of jumping out of a moving plane for the first time! But Mind is all about overcoming barriers and finding strength at difficult times.
‘That is why we have chosen to skydive to raise money for their cause ‑ overcoming our own fears to raise money and attention for the great work that they do, and the brilliant cause they represent.’
Katie-Sarah Willing, funeral director at the Co-op Funeralcare in Okehampton and Launceston, said: ‘For decades, mental health has been under-reported and under-funded.
‘It’s an issue that people still find difficult to talk about, despite the fact that it can affect any one of us at any time.’
She added: ‘Mind is a fantastic charity that provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
‘Tristan and I are both so pleased with the amount of money we were able to raise, and the generosity of so many of our colleagues who helped us smash our target and raise so much money for a cause so near and dear to our hearts.’
Those wishing to continue helping the two funeralcare colleagues exceed their fundraising goal can do so by visiting their Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katieandtristansbigjump