Derry man celebrating 18th Birthday with charity skydive for Children’s Cancer Unit
‘I just want to make a difference and help even one youngster’ - Jamie Barrett
What better way to celebrate your 18th Birthday than by jumping out of an aeroplane at 15,000 feet in aid of a well-deserving charity?
And, that is exactly what Derry’s Jamie Barrett will be doing on June 26, two days before his birthday, in aid of The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity (CCUC).
The CCUC provides the “best possible treatment and support for children and young people, and their families, facing a cancer diagnosis or complex blood disorder”.
“I picked CCUC because my wee sister, Kari, who is now 14, had cancer when she was just 13 months - neuroblastoma,” said Jamie, who was five at the time.
“The CCUC would have supported Kari and my mum, Lorraine, and dad, Kevin, during her treatment in Belfast and in England,” he added.
“The idea of doing the skydive came first and then I decided to use it to fundraise for The CCUC. Thankfully, Kari made it home from Belfast but there are other children being treated there, so I thought it would be a good idea to combine the skydive with some fundraising.
‘There is only one way I am getting off that plane, so I’m a wee bit nervous but not too much - yet’
“I am mostly excited but we’ll see a week before it if the nerves kick in. There is only one way I am getting off that plane, so I’m a wee bit nervous but not too much - yet.
“Everyone in the family has been brilliant about the skydive, especially my grannies and grandas, Margaret and Bertie Barrett, and Kathleen Cullivan and Frankie Tully. I’m hoping they get down to Garvagh on the day to watch me leaping out of the plane.
“My target is £1,000 and I am about half way there at the minute,” said Jamie, who works in Paul’s Butchers on Culmore Road.
He added that everyone was very welcome to come to the landing zone on the day to watch his skydive.
The link to Jamie’s JustGiving page ‘Jamie’s Jump’ is: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jamiesjump2026?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA.
“She just had a swelling in her stomach,” he said, “and it just blew up in size. She went for a scan and they said it was ‘possibly’ neuroblastoma. She was then sent to Belfast for treatment and over to Southampton in England for an operation.
“Thankfully Kari is doing great now. Her cancer free date was October 2014.
“It was tough for Jamie because he was at primary school and, at times, because we were going to Belfast to get even a thumb prick sometimes and then sent home, he mightn’t have seen his mum or me for two or three days. We were up and down the road to Belfast so often I hate driving that road now,” said Kevin.
Reflecting on his imminent skydive, Jamie said he just wanted to “make a difference even for one youngster. I want to raise enough money to help the CCUC help other families.”