Two colleagues at a North East science park will be taking to – and falling from – the sky as they hope to raise money for a cause close to their hearts this July.

Claire Morton and Natalie Taylor, members of the management team at the Wilton Centre in Redcar, have courageously volunteered to skydive from 10,000ft.

They will make the jump in a bid to raise funds for a Middlesborough-based children’s hospice which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Zoe’s Place is a charity which supports families and children with life-limiting illnesses and complex conditions which often require intensive nursing.

They provide short-stay respite care for families, with a focus making the most of everyday experiences. The hospice also offers family counselling services, and in some sad cases, end of life care and bereavement support.

The decision to take the plunge came following a three-day visit to the hospice last year. Claire said: “We all came away absolutely in awe of the work they do and we were so touched and moved, that we decided we needed to do more.”

Besides their skydiving endeavours, the Wilton Centre also plan to support Zoe’s Place by hosting a fundraising barbecue. This is in addition to running a cash draw every month this year, as they mark the charity’s 20th anniversary.

Speaking about their new fundraising venture, Claire said: “We can do little bits and go back every year – which we’re doing again this Christmas – but we wanted to do something that can make a difference and raise a significant amount of money.”

The Northern Echo: Courageous colleagues Claire Morton, left, and Natalie Taylor, who are planning to skydive to raise

Corporate fundraiser for Zoe’s Place in Middlesborough, Ashleigh Wood, praised the Wilton Centre’s efforts, saying: “Our friends at the Wilton Centre have been backing Zoe’s Place for over a decade, raising over a whopping £14,000. This generosity has provided a lifeline for families when they needed it most.”

She added: “Now, two of their fearless ladies, Natalie and Claire, have chosen to throw themselves out of a plane on our behalf and we couldn’t be more grateful. This high-flying support enables our care teams to continue their vital work, helping families cherish life’s small yet precious moments.”

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Although Claire has previously skydived in Australia, this will be the first time for Natalie, who shared her feelings about making the jump, saying: “I’m only just over five feet tall so heights are very foreign to me. I’ll be terrified, but it's for a great cause and that’s what it’s about.

“We want to continue supporting Zoe’s Place so we might go even bigger and bolder after this.”

Claire and Natalie will be taking their big leap on July 3. For those who wish to support the hospice on terra firma a Just Giving page has been set up for Middlesborough’s Zoe’s Place which can be accessed here: https://www.justgiving.com/zoesplace.