The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Would you jump out of a plane for one of your colleagues?
In the case of Pat Newton the answer is yes and she and ten fellow Fowler Welch employees are set to take on a parachute jump in her latest fundraiser for Parkinson’s UK.
Pat (53), of Pennygate, Spalding, was diagnosed with the condition five years ago.
“It was a big shock,” she said. “I had a vibration in my right arm and the doctors thought I had a thing called an essential tremor.
“I was sent to a neurologist who I saw at Johnson Hospital and he said there and then what it was Parkinson’s.
“After a scan to confirm it I have a form of Parkinson’s called idiopathic, there is no known cause.
“As things in the last year have changed so has my mindset.
“I’m looking to do what I can when I can and so thought I’d do a parachute jump.
“I thought it would be just me then another colleague came on, then another and now there’s ten of us doing it.”
Pat has worked at Fowler Welch for over 17 years.
She initially worked on the shop floor but due to her Parkinson’s has taken up an admin role.
Joining her in the jump from Sibson Airfield on June 12 is Francien Bull, Jo Taylor, Yaz Quinn, James Craggs, Ziggy Ivatt, Jon Holland, Paul Matthews, Vince Maddison and Stuart Gray.
“It’s quite overwhelming to be honest,” the mum of one and grandma to five said.
“It’s brilliant to be supported like this. We’re all looking forward to it, though my nerves on the day might be a bit different.”
It’s not the first time she’s raised funds. Last September she biked for 200 miles during the month to raise over £20,000 for Parkinson’s UK.
She also recently raised £300 by walking for 50 miles in 50 days.
“I want to do as much as I possibly can,” Pat said.
You can donate on the Facebook fundraiser page ‘parkinsons uk simply because I am parkinsons suffer and I’m doing this whilst I can’ or via the Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Fowler-Welch1
