Fourteen fearless fundraisers are set to take on a skydive next month in memory of a six-year-old Perthshire girl who passed away from cancer early last year.
Ruby Stewart, from Inchture, was diagnosed with stage four alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in 2017 but despite undergoing intense treatment she died in January 2020, just two weeks before what would have been her seventh birthday.
Parents Claire and Andy have been working tirelessly ever since to raise cash for research into cancer through Super Ruby’s Rhabdo Raiser, a fund they set up with Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) while Ruby was undergoing treatment.
The pair have raised an incredible £170,000 so far and are now aiming to add another £10,000 to the total by jumping out of a plane over Auchterarder during the second weekend of December along with a team made up of 12 friends, neighbours and work colleagues.
Claire explained: “Our jump will be from over 10,000ft up and we will reach speeds of up to 120mph. The jump takes place over two days due to the number of people taking part and the amount of daylight available.
“Andy and I will both be jumping on the Sunday and will be there to support the team on Saturday too.
“Hopefully we’ll have a beautiful winter’s day and get to appreciate the amazing views of central Scotland.”
Claire has no doubt that Ruby, whose favourite ride at Disneyland was the Parachute, would have loved the skydive.
She said: “Ruby would be amazed, excited and would probably want to take part. She’d also be grateful, would want to help in whatever way she could, and would be really touched that people were doing such a crazy, courageous thing for her and other children like her.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone in the team. To commit not only to jumping out of a plane, but also to raising a significant amount of money, is a really big deal.
“To give their time and energy to this event, especially on the lead up to Christmas, is really very special.”
Claire went on: “There are lots of cancer charities and many adult cancers that receive lots of funding for research and progress has been made in treating lots of cancers, but some types of cancer, like the one Ruby had, have seen very little progress for decades. We’re trying to change that through research.
“Please help us if you can, any amount helps. Consider it a Christmas gift to all the children suffering with diseases like Ruby’s.”
To donate to Claire and Andy’s cause go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/rubys-giant-jump
Find out more about Super Ruby’s Rhabdo Raiser at https://specialnamedfunds.cclg.org.uk/super-rubys-rhabdo-raiser or https://bemoreruby.com
