A BRAVE Brierley Hill cook is getting set to tick off a daring item on her bucket list to help raise cash and awareness for a cause close to her heart.
Lynn Wilkes has signed up to do a wing walk from the skies over Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on May 20 to raise funds for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.
The 54-year-old from Withymoor has long harboured a desire to take on the challenge and a few weeks ago her husband Simon, who has a rare form of blood cancer Myelodysplastic Syndromes, asked her if she was ever going to take the plunge so she signed up once and for all.
Shortly after declaring she was ready to take on the high-flying challenge, family friend and businessman Jason Connon, who runs Cushillo Personnel, agreed to sponsor the brave feat.
Lynn said: “I have always wanted to do a wing walk so this will be one off the bucket list. I cannot wait for this experience of a lifetime.”
She said the event will be another charity challenge remembering her late son Olly who tragically passed away in April 2017, aged just 22.
Both Lynn and husband Simon have been holding annual charity events in memory of Olly – raising cash and awareness for a host of causes including the Anthony Nolan charity.
Lynn Wilkes, left, with husband Simon, their late son Olly and son Ben, right.
They have organised stem cell drives at Olly’s Memorial Football Tournament and to date have had two people who signed up to the stem cell register declared a match to help save a life.
First Matt Beveridge was called to donate stem cells in 2018, after doing a swab to go on the register in 2017, and more recently Sam Astley made headlines after turning down tickets to see England play in the Euro 2020 semi-final to donate stem cells after being declared a match for someone in need of a transplant.
Lynn said her adventurous fundraising feat, with the AeroSuperBatics wing walking team, will not only raise money and awareness for Anthony Nolan but she's also described it as a "curtain raiser for Olly’s Memorial Football Tournament 2022 on Saturday June 25 where Anthony Nolan will be taking swabs of potential lifesavers”.
Lynn Wilkes with her late son Olly
She and Simon hope the charity stunt will inspire people to turn out and sign up to the register to help give people battling blood cancer and blood disorders the best chance of survival.
Anyone wishing to donate to Lynn’s fundraising efforts for Anthony Nolan can do so online at justgiving.com (search Simon Wilkes).
A target of £2,000 has been set and already more than £250 has been pledged.
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