Mother plans parachute jump to raise funds for pre-school

4:00pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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A DARING mother is gearing herself up for a parachute jump to raise money for her son’s pre-school.

Joanne Lewis, landlady of the New Inn, in Dursley, was roped into doing the jump by a patron at the pub who came up with the idea to raise money for St Joseph Pre School, in Nympsfield, where both his children and Joanne’s son attend.

Joanne agreed to the idea and plans to raise £1,000 for the pre-school, which her three-year-old son, Harvey, attends.

"One of our locals generously offered to pay for the jump if I agreed to do it for St Joseph so I accepted because I thought it was a kind offer," said Joanne.

"Then the other night I was in bed thinking; what have I done? But I am sure it will be fine and I will enjoy it. My husband keeps saying I won’t do it so I have to now because I want to prove him wrong."

St Joseph’s pre-school is attached to the main school and caters for children between the age of two and a half and four and most children go on to join the primary school.

"It is a really lovely school and as soon as Harvey visited he loved it there," said Joanne, 39.

"The money I raise will go towards new toys and hopefully some playground equipment for the pre-school."

Joanne, who has been at the New Inn for six months, never considered doing a parachute jump before and is both excited and apprehensive about the big day, which is planned for some time in October at South Cerney airfield near Cirencester.

Joanne added: "I am very nervous about the jump, you go over it in your mind and worry about it but I am sure it will be fine – everyone tells me I will love it so hopefully I will."

If you would like to sponsor Joanne a Just Giving website will be set up shortly on www.justgiving.com/jolewis or a sponsorship form will be behind the bar at the New Inn, in Woodmancote.