My name is Leti, a healthcare support worker at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. On my 21st birthday I will be doing a 10,000ft skydive to fundraise towards University Hospitals Dorset NHS charity. I have chosen UHD as my charity to fundraise towards as I’ve had my own personal experiences as both a healthcare worker and as a patient. During my time as a patient, the incredible teams at RBH supported me through many challenges I’ve faced with my health, specifically, the portering team, clinical site, ward one and the liaison psychiatry team. I am truly grateful for their compassion and commitment to patient care. This skydive and UHD charity fundraiser is in honour of the incredible staff and colleagues who fought for me when I couldn’t myself.

Despite the significant underfunding the NHS is experiencing, UHD honours and adheres to its 6 values; we are: caring, one team, listening to understand, open and honest, always improving and inclusive. The UHD charity aims to “enhance the care and treatment of patients accessing NHS services at Poole, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals by fundraising to provide enhanced facilities, state of the art equipment and support NHS staff health, well-being and development”.