Brave fundraiser Kelsey: Skydive for Huntington's Association "the best thing ever"

INTREPID fundraiser Kelsey Wagstaff enjoyed falling and floating to earth so much she is desperate to do it again.
Kelsey Wagstaff with her jump instructorKelsey Wagstaff with her jump instructor
Kelsey Wagstaff with her jump instructor

The 22-year-old, who suffers from Huntington’s Disease, took on a 16,000ft skydive to raise awareness of the condition and raise cash for support charity the Huntington’s Association, for which she collected £800 in sponsorship.

Because she has mobility problems, Kelsey, of Swinton, had to be helped to the aeroplane from which she jumped, but she said the experience was thrilling.

“It was the best thing ever,” said Kelsey, whose boyfriend Jamie Butler paid for her to do the jump as a Christmas present.

“I was screaming a little bit on the way down but it was an amazing feeling and I really want to do it again.

“Nobody knows much about Huntington’s so I wanted to change that.”

Grandmother Sandra Burns, who gathered sponsors with her daughter Beverley Wagstaff, said: “Kelsey is such an amazing little lady.”

Kelsey inherited Huntington’s, for which there is no cure, from her father.

Most people do not show any symptoms until they are in their mid-40s but Kelsey has the juvenile version of the illness which means she developed symptoms early and it now affects her her balance, speech and mobility and her life expectancy is reduced. 

She said: “I have a little bit of a bucket list because of my condition and I want to do everything I can.

“I am definitely going to do another skydive.”

Related topics: