Lucy's Jump for Cancer Research

I am jumping out a plane to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Attached to a parachute, thankfully.

Cancer Research is a charity close to my heart. I am going to write a bit about some of my family members who have been affected by cancer, because this jump is dedicated to all of them.

Firstly, a special mention to Catherine Beel. She may not have been family, but she has been the one who has inspired be to do this jump. She was so full of life and spirit, loved by everyone she met, and above all, kind. She is missed by all who met her - taken from us too soon, too young.

Grandad (Brian Jolly)

Grandad was probably the tallest person I had ever met - he would take out ceiling lights with his head, and once even broke my mum's sofa by dropping himself onto it from his great height. But what I most remember him for is how he taught me to appreciate the outdoors. I have vivid memories of sitting eating homemade soup with bread and farmhouse butter - respite between building dens in the trees nearby. He was a very intelligent man and would buy me books for Christmas and encourage me to read. He took beautiful photographs and hung them on his wall. His wonderful cottage by the river was freezing, but a haven. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he just seemed to fade away into someone else - someone I hadn't met. I am lucky in that I was young enough to not remember who that person was. The only memories I possess are those of my Grandad how he was before his diagnosis. I will treasure those memories of him forever.

Grandpa (Peter Foreman)

Losing my Grandpa has never truly sunk in. Even now, after all this time, tears well up in my eyes. I remember when he was diagnosed - it didn't seem real. Fast forward six months, and he was in a coma in palliative care at home. I frequently talked to him, even though he was unable to listen or talk. One day when I went to talk to him, I stood there helplessly and watched his final breath leave him. I find it difficult to see anything other than that image when I think of him, even though it has been 6 years. But I try to think of all the amazing memories I have of him. I realised there are far too many to list here, but I shall recite the most entertaining memories I have:

• Mistaking my Christmas gift wish of GHD straighteners with "JCB fritters"

• When I told him the post was here, he excitedly shuffled into the kitchen expecting toast.

• Watching home videos of him wearing a "see you Jimmy" hat and getting annihilated by boxer dog kisses

• Buying me (and himself) Magnums at the newsagents whilst on walks

• Being an avid lover of food. He even enjoyed salad, providing it was sprinkled liberally with pies.

He was an amazing photographer with a sharp witted and brilliant mind, loved and adored by all the family.

Aunty Pat (Patricia Taylor)

I wish I could have got to know Aunty Pat more than I did. I remember her being a kind and caring aunty, who wouldn't let anyone want for anything.

Aunty Betty (Elizabeth Allen)

Batty Betty was the absolute epitome of the "crazy aunty". Despite being deceptively short and slight, she had a personality that packed a punch. I have lasting memories of her that are an eclectic concoction of poignant and terrifying. She would buy me wonderful gifts and toys, but would hide them in a pyjama case. A seemingly harmless pyjama case that was shaped like a turtle from Aardman's "Creature Comforts". She christened him "McEnroe". She terrorised me with McEnroe the turtle to the degree that I had long lasting night terrors of being chased by wolves he had set upon me. The more of a complex I developed about McEnroe, the more she would enjoy taunting me. I was well into high school before my irrational fear of turtle-shaped pyjama cases ceased to cause me sleepless nights. Aside from some casual good-old traumatising, she was a very generous and friendly aunty. I used to love going to her house to play in her garden rammed full of fruit trees and flowers where I could let my imagination run wild. I loved going to lunch with her where her opening comment would be regarding how tall we were getting and how short she was getting. She had always struck me as being invincible and her diagnosis really shocked me. She was a bouncing ball of morbidity and eccentricity in equal measures - even before her diagnosis - and for that she was truly unique.

I am fortunate enough to have positive stories too. One of my family members had the dreaded C word conversed to them. But she, being the amazing lady that she is, told cancer where to go. I am sure there will be many more positive stories to come.

This jump is for those I have lost, those who have fought, those who are fighting, and those who may yet have a battle to fight. I stand by you all. I hope this small gesture can raise money to help others.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for donating.