Later this year (June 2nd) three brave souls from the UK garden retail sector will be taking to the skies to raise £15,000 for the Greenfingers Charity. Here we catch up with one of the ‘wing walkers’, SBM Life Science’s Lowri Walker, to find out more about her FUNdraising journey.
“It [the Greenfingers Wing Walk] seemed a good idea when I initially agreed to do this, but then everything does after a few Pinots!! I can honestly say the nerves kick in every time I think ahead to this, for me this will be one hell of a personal challenge and certainly something which will need a lot of mind over matter!! Sitting comfortably inside a plane is one thing but being strapped on the outside of one is definitely something else.
“I did complete a sky dive several years ago collectively raising money for both Greenfingers and Rugby for Heroes, which was an amazing experience once leaving the plane but the build-up and the ride up to 12,000ft was horrendous! But, with a sky dive you are safe in the knowledge that the professional is with you and talks and helps you through it, however with a wing walk it’s just you up there and that’s what worries me the most, not to mention the zoom climbs, steep dives and banks!!
“Greenfingers is a truly wonderful and worthwhile charity and it’s not surprising our industry supports it in the way it does. Each and every one of us shares a passion for gardening otherwise we wouldn’t do what we do on a daily basis, so to be able to give something back to the children and their families, enabling them to enjoy a bit of normality in their very complicated and upsetting lives, is definitely something that means a lot to me and the inspiration I need. They live in fear every day which puts my fear for a 10-minute wing walk into perspective.
“Every penny really does help and it’s great the support we have had so far with friends, family and colleagues but what we really need now to see the industry rallying to help us reach our £15,000 target. That’s just £100 from 151 companies/individuals – not too much to ask is it?!”
Anyone wanting to donate can do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gima-wing-walkers
To find out more about Greenfingers Charity please visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk. You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.