Doing a skydive is something I’d always carried around as a quiet “one day” dream.

Turning 40 felt like a real milestone, a moment to do something that genuinely scared me but also felt meaningful. I had just started working for CLEFT, and it suddenly felt like the right cause, at exactly the right time.

The experience itself was overwhelming in the best possible way. Flying up knowing I was about to jump out of a plane, was terrifying, but as soon as I did it turned into pure adrenaline and joy. It was one of the most intense and life-affirming things I’ve ever done, and I felt an enormous sense of pride knowing I was doing it for CLEFT.

What surprised me most was how powerful it was as a way of starting conversations. People asked why I was doing it, which opened the door to talking about CLEFT, the children and families the charity supports, and the work being done both in the UK and internationally. Raising awareness felt just as important as raising funds.

The fundraising side felt really accessible too. The CLEFT fundraising page was easy to set up and share, and seeing friends, family, and colleagues get behind it was incredibly moving.

After landing, my overwhelming feeling was that I wanted to do it all over again. Both of my kids watched the jump, and now they talk about wanting to do a skydive themselves one day, which makes it feel even more special. It became something they shared with me, not just something I did alone.