Jonty's 100 pals are for the high jump!

12:43pm Monday 4th December 2006

A CANCER sufferer from Newtown, Sharpness, is hoping to raise £20,000 for charity by signing up 100 people for a parachute jump.

Jonty Leathwood, 25 and his wife Kim, 24, have planned the event to raise money for the Royal Marsden hospital in London, which specialises in cancer treatment, after Jonty was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma, a soft tissue cancer in his chest.

Mrs Leathwood said: "Jonty has always wanted to do a parachute jump and wanted to raise money to help others. Cancer puts life into perspective and makes you think more and focus on actually doing what you want to."

The couple were shocked to find out that he had cancer in July of this year. At the time they had two young boys and Kim was seven months pregnant.

Mr Leathwood said: "It was the worst news ever. It felt weird and I couldn't believe it. Telling the family was so hard. It is horrible knowing you are hurting people that you love."

He has since had intensive chemotherapy sessions to reduce the lump and will be undergoing radiotherapy treatment over Christmas before hopefully having surgery in January.

Help from friends and family has been crucial and the same friends and family are taking part in the jump with 45 volunteers currently signed up. The aim is for every person to be able to raise £400 to pay for the jump on April 21, at the Duke of Gloucester barracks in South Cerney, with the remainder - about £225 - going to the charity.

A fun day and evenings entertainment is also being held at the Clothiers Arms pub, Bath Road, Stroud on the same day.

Anyone who would like to get involved in the parachute jump should contact Kim on 07789 244209 or to donate directly, call the Royal Marsden hospital fundraising line on 020 8770 0279.

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