Investec Cheltenham and Bristol are supporting Winston's Wish as a local charity for the next two years. Whilst throwing ourselves out of a plane at 10,000ft takes some doing, it's nothing compared to the challenges facing children who have lost somebody so close to them.

On August 18th I will be jumping out of a metal cylinder, which is attached to two internal combustion engines propelling to the low height of 10,000 feet. Anyone who knows me, knows I am terrified of heights.

10,000 feet means I will be free falling for 30 seconds (I am told), hurtling towards our planet with no apparent safety net around me apart from the instructor latched to me – who, I have no doubt will be very used to the type of expletives which will be spewing out of my mouth.

If you are like me, all this sounds terrifying but it’s nowhere near as terrifying as a child losing a loved one. The sheer confusion, dread and loss caused from such an event is the lowest anyone will have to go through. Although, the 30 seconds I am sure will feel like a lifetime time, but it is nowhere near as long and as hard as the grief that a child will carry with them for the rest of their life.

Whilst I will be ‘free falling’ I will have a fully trained instructor with hundreds if not thousands of hours of Skydiving experience, with also a reserve parachute if we need it (hopefully not!!). Winston's Wish provides that metaphorical ‘reserve parachute’ to children and young people, when the worst of all eventualities happens to them.

Nothing prepares you for the loss of a loved one, as I and anyone one who has lost someone will testify. Although gaining help, support and somewhere/someone who a child or young person can go to where you won’t feel judged for how you’re feeling, the feeling of numbness and confusion at the world for how it can keep turning when it feels that your life has crashed around you. Winston Wish won’t be able to provide all the answers but it will provide a coping mechanism to manage this loss.

As little as a £5 donation can help provide specialist publications offering parents professional advice to support their bereaved children and £20 could cover the full cost operating WW website for a whole day, including its Help2MakeSense forum which is a safe space for young people to talk with one another.

Thank you for taking the time visit my giving page and any donation is massively appreciated!