Daredevil Tom Harding has no fears about standing on top of a plane and soaring through the sky.
Especially as his wing walk is raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice where his auntie Sarah Bell died six months ago.
The charity still has a few places left for those daring enough to strap themselves on to a 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane over a Gloucestershire airfield on Monday, July 11.
Tom, aged 27, cannot wait to get airborne after his safety briefing. He said: “I’ve got three brothers and they all think I’m mad.
“I’ve always been known as the wild one and I’d always be up for the challenge of a bungee jump or a banana boat.
“I think my brothers would love to have a go at the wing walk themselves but they can’t pluck up the courage. My younger brother Jack has just broken his wrist doing a bungee jump.”
Family, friends and work colleagues are sponsoring Tom, a service team operator at AstraZeneca. He is involved in the Zoladex project, a treatment for breast and prostate cancer patients.
The Harding brothers with dad Phil (centre). From left, Jack, James, Harry and Tom.
AstraZeneca have close links with the Hospice and will match fund Tom’s fundraising total which has already topped £1,100 with almost half that sum donated on the first day.
His family were overwhelmed by the care Sarah received at the Hospice. She was just 39 and died of melanoma cancer.
Tom said: “The way they looked after my auntie was incredible. I just wanted to give something back for all the care and love they gave her while she was there.
“We all speak highly of the Hospice and the work done by the nurses. Our granddad took the family on holidays and we shared those precious times with Sarah.
“She would be laughing her head off at the thought of me doing a wing walk.”
* To sponsor Tom visit justgiving.com/fundraising/tom-harding6
Interested wing walkers must be at least 18, no taller than 6 ft 2 in and no heavier than 14 stone, with a waist measurement of 40″ or less while wearing warm clothing and a jacket.
The cost is a £150 deposit upon registration and a guarantee to raise a minimum of £500 sponsorship.
* To sign up visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/wingwalk-2022/
Back to all newsThank you so much for choosing to support East Cheshire Hospice. You may never know how much your gift means, but we know that it will make the world of difference to our patients and their families.
