Skydive in memory of beloved granda raises £6k for hospital units

Three members of a County Derry family have taken on a daring skydive in memory of their beloved granda and husband.

Niamh Page organised the fundraiser in memory of her late granda PJ McCloskey, who was from Claudy. 

On Saturday, April 12 the brave young lady skydived from 15,000 feet alongside her sister Aoibheann and her granny Bernie. 

To date the fundraiser has raised £6,000 with funds going towards The North West Cancer Centre and Ward 50 in Altnagelvin Hospital. 

Speaking to the County Derry Post on the experience, Niamh said: “The skydive was incredible, it was me, my sister Aoibheann and my granny Bernie who all did it together. 

“Aoibheann and Granny were so excited for it and I was a bit nervous, the most thrilling experience we have ever had, running on nothing but pure adrenaline the whole day.

“When we all got in the aeroplane things were starting to get real, we reached 15,000 feet and then it was time to jump, one after the other, barely 10 seconds between each of us jumping.

“After we landed we were all on such a high, it was very emotional realising what we had just done and what we had done it for, we have currently over achieved our target of £5,000 for the North West Cancer Centre and Ward 50 in Altnagelvin. We are now closer to £6,000 which is mental because we thought we were in over our heads aiming for £5,000, we are still taking donations until 25th of April through our Go Fund Me. I really hope we did my Granda PJ and the NWCC proud.”

Niamh’s granda, Patrick ‘Paddy Joe’ McCloskey, also known fondly as Granda PJ lost his battle with cancer on July 24 2024.

Reflecting on her supportive granda and her love for him, Niamh said: “Granda battled cancer for three years and he meant the world to us. Granda was our number one supporter, constantly bragging about his grandchildren to other family members and his friends, there was no one better than his grandchildren. He was someone who was always proud of the little things we did.  And so, for that reason, he was always someone I wanted to impress, he would do anything for us growing up and so when his health started to decline, it was my time to return the favour, not just me but all my family members. I wouldn’t have been able to do it if it wasn’t for such a great cause and something that means so much to me and my family.

“It’s actually his birthday on Tuesday, 15th April and this will be his first birthday without him here and we wanted to do something to mark the occasion. Any sane person would probably just eat at their loved ones favourite restaurants or something but of course I had to think of something better.

“So I wanted to find a way to raise money for NWCC and Ward 50 because they couldn’t have cared better for granda when he was in the hospital. I thought a skydive was the perfect way to raise funds, hoping because it was such an extravagant event, it would entice more people to donate. I asked my family members if they wanted to join and Aoibheann and granny volunteered.”

Keeping it in Derry, the girls took on their thrilling skydive at Skydive Ireland based in Garvagh. 

Niamh added: “They were an absolutely brilliant team by the way, really made us feel safe and secure! It was 15,000 ft we jumped, the highest skydive in Ireland apparently. I have a fear of heights, I don’t know how I did it but it was a once in a lifetime experience and for an amazing cause so how could I not!”

The Go Fund Me page in memory of PJ is still open. If you wish to donate you can do so via /bit.ly/3G4deJK