Aileen dives in for charity
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A GARTLY mum will take a tandem skydive at the end of this month to raise money for a charity which supported the family during a gruelling cancer journey.
Aileen Watt is doing the parachute jump in celebration of her daughter’s five years remission from Hodgkin’s lymphoma which has recently been capped by the plucky young woman receiving a first class honours master of arts degree in business and management from the University of Glasgow.
Andrea Watt (22) battled the rare form of cancer, which affects the lymphatic system, through her senior years at The Gordon Schools. She was 16 and had just sat her standard grade exams when she was diagnosed.
Aileen is raising money for the Make a Wish Foundation, which took the family to London during Andrea’s treatment.
Aileen explained: ”I had always wanted to do something for Make a Wish, they made our trip to London with Andrea and her sisters very special. Andrea loves jewellery and they even arranged that Tiffany’s would open specially for her on the Sunday morning.
"The time away from home with the family provided much-needed respite after eight months of gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We are extremely lucky that she responded well to the treatment and has made a full recovery.
"To celebrate her five years in remission I want to help make a difference by raising money for Make a Wish so that more youngsters fighting a life threatening illness can benefit. A friend did a tandem skydive and she inspired me to do one too.”
On July 30, Aileen will go to Auchterarder where, weather permitting she will complete the training and then do the skydive.
She has set herself a target of raising £2000 for the Make a Wish Foundation and is already well on her way with £1400 donated through her Just Giving page, www.justgiving.com/Aileen-Watt
