Cancer patients, clinicians, and families have raised thousands for charity by jumping from Europe’s largest drop zone.
The group of seven took part in tandem skydives for PLANETS Cancer Charity at SkyDive Netheravon in Wiltshire, leaping from over 14,000 feet.
The Hampshire-based charity, which supports patients with various cancers, is now hoping to reach its £10,000 target before the weekend.
One further participant is set to complete his skydive this Friday (27 September).
Among the seven who took to the sky was Sophie Hallett, 40, from the Isle of Wight, whose father Mick was a long-term patient of PLANETS co-founder Neil Pearce.
Mick and Mr Pearce both completed tandem skydives in 2014 before Mick’s passing.
Ms Hallett discovered, in an "emotional moment," that she was jumping with the same instructor her dad had had.
Ali Arshad, lead for robotic cancer surgery at University Hospital Southampton, will complete his jump this Friday (Image: Supplied)
Also jumping was Mr Pearce’s wife Nikoletta, who reached more than 120 mph, and was in free fall for approximately 45 seconds.
Oliver Pike, 17, nephew of PLANETS trustee Tori Caine, who helped to organise the skydive fundraiser, jumped in honour of his grandparents who had both received treatment from the PLANETS clinical team in recent years.
The final participant, set to complete his jump on Friday, is Ali Arshad, consultant hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon and lead for robotic cancer surgery at University Hospital Southampton.
Layla Stephen, director of strategy and finance for PLANETS, said: "We are so grateful to everyone who has participated and supported this wonderful and exhilarating event which has raised a significant and vital amount of money for our charity.
"These funds go directly and immediately into providing support groups for our patients, funding innovative treatments and supporting vital research, so we cannot stress enough how important such activities are."
Jo Green, director of operations and marketing for PLANETS, added: "Our fundraisers have done such a fantastic job in getting us so close to our £10,000 target but we remain just short, so we are calling on people to give us the last push we need to get us over the line."
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/tandem-skydive
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