LAST Thursday 16th June, Emma Burges, store manager at Linens Direct at The Harvey Centre, made a brave skydive in aid of Breast Cancer Care, sponsored by The Harvey Centre as well as many friends.

Emma, who has worked as a store manager at the centre for five years, started fundraising on 9th May, after successfully fighting the disease herself and wanting to find a way to show her appreciation for the care and treatment she received. She started with a target of £400 and has currently raised over 200% of that target – over £800, partly thanks to The Harvey Centre’s generous donation.

Emma landed on the idea of a skydive for her fundraising activity as the fear that this challenge presented, reflected the fear she felt after she was first diagnosed, when she discovered a lump in February 2014. In her own words, it was, “A fight I never thought I would have to go through.” But she did, and it was a fight she won – after a truly frightening journey involving chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a mastectomy.

Before the jump, Emma went on to say, “I cannot even imagine how much it cost to make sure I am here today. So many people have lost their lives to this awful disease, I could never be thankful enough to be cancer free! Time to give back, if I can beat cancer, I can jump out of a plane.”

After the jump she said “The skydive was excellent, I would recommend it to anyone!”

The Harvey Centre has donated £100 to Emma’s Just Giving page, www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Emma-Burgess8 and has a page dedicated to Emma on their website, http://theharveycentre.com/1773-2/.

Bryan Young, Centre Manager at The Harvey Centre says, “We feel honoured to be able to sponsor Emma for her brave fundraising activity. After facing the challenge of cancer treatment with such courage and determination, we are sure the skydive was a rather more exhilarating, yet equally frightening challenge.”