When Ella and Tegan Hemming, sisters aged 17 and 15, heard about Sussex Community NHS Charity's Drop 360 challenge, they couldn't pass the opportunity to get involved.
The pair are no stranger to adrenaline fuelled fun and having grown up in Sussex with many friends and family accessing local NHS services, they jumped at the chance to give back with an iconic challenge.
On 10 October, Ella and Tegan will be strapping into their harnesses along with other charity supporters and NHS staff members, before ascending 138 metres in the Brighton i360's panoramic pod. The team will then take turns to make one gigantic leap from the doors, to be lowered against a breathtaking backdrop of ocean and city views at twilight to the ground below.
We asked the thrill-seeking duo why they decided to take on the challenge.
“My friend got into a serious accident and was put into an induced coma. The NHS put in so much time and effort and he is now at home recovering. Without the NHS he might not be here, so this is a small way I can repay my gratitude”, says Ella.
The Drop 360 will be Tegan's first charity challenge, alongside sister Ella who has already completed a skydive from 10,000 feet just for the fun of it! Ella has previously raised funds for the British Heart Foundation by giving up chocolate for a month – an impressive accomplishment.
The girls continue, “We are both in search of adrenaline, and this will be our very first abseil style challenge, a new experience we can do together. We have been raising donations through JustGiving, sharing our page on Facebook and with friends and family. People have been really generous donating and sharing our page.”
Together the pair have raised over £300 so far, check out their JustGiving page and show your support to help them reach their goal.
Every penny raised helps us to provide support to Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust to continue providing excellent care in the heart of the community. Thanks to the generous donations we are able to make grants to improve staff wellbeing, buy specialist pieces of equipment that can't be funded by the core NHS budget, and pay for specific projects and training which enhance the welfare of patients.
We wish the best of luck to Ella and Tegan, and thank them for their kind and generous support of our NHS staff and patients.
