Skydive 18 July 2020

I don’t really like heights, and so jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet is the perfect way to overcome that, said no one ever. So having agreed to do this I wanted to see if I could support a good cause in the process.

I worked with Ian for a few years and have followed more recently with huge interest his incredible story and journey, along with the team at We Are Hummingbird. I’ve been proud to wear the t-shirt but hopefully this will give a bit more. Even if you don’t sponsor me, please take the time to read the story below.

We Are Hummingbird - Breaking the Stigma with Music

We are Hummingbird is a community of music lovers who have united to spread awareness of mental health within the music industry and to support artists suffering worldwide with mental health issues.

‘Born out of the loss of a close friend to suicide, we needed to see what we could do to help others avoid such heartbreak and help remove the stigma around mental health.

Our friend Matt was the light in the room, the man you wanted to see on night out and the guy you wanted to steal some time with to chat about anything and everything. Not only the funniest man in the room, he was the best singer, songwriter and guitarist in the land.

Music for us became a huge support tool and helped us grieve on the loss of our friend, but also facilitated us getting together, that’s when the lightbulb lit up.

We are Hummingbird were lucky enough to be invited by the wonderful team at Victorious Festival to be a presence in 2019 and help spread their message of ‘Mental Health - Breaking the Stigma with Music’.

They were hugely popular over the weekend and had many meaningful conversations, resulting in some relationships that continue to this day. Feed back told them they were an invaluable resource on the day.

Their success in 2019 has seen their necessity at festivals rise and as such they have been invited to several festivals and events for 2020. This proves that what they offer is invaluable and fits the reality of festival goers, connecting on a level that meets their needs, a requirement that unfortunately many other mental health organisations are unable to provide.

To ensure they stand out, they are looking to get a second professionally printed gazebo to match the first and branded ‘uniforms’ to kit out dedicated volunteers. This way, they can look professional, approachable and ultimately look like a team.

Money raised from my skydive will go to fund this cause. Thank you.

https://www.wearehummingbird.com/