A BRAVE Redditch woman who lost her dad when she was just 11 will undertake a daring skydive three days after her 21st birthday to raise funds for the charity which helped her through the grieving process.
Siana Beard, a former pupil of Ipsley and Arrow Vale Academy and now an NCS youth worker, wants to give something back for the amazing support she received from Vicki at child bereavement charity Touchstones.
Touchstones supports young people across north Worcestershire when they lose someone close to them.
Weather permitting, Siana’s 12,000ft jump will take place on August 21 and, after self-funding the skydive so every penny goes to the cause, she has set herself a £1,000 fund-raising target.
Siana said: “After losing my nan at the age of six, Vicki, the founder of Touchstones, worked with me to help me understand my grief and bring hope to my future.
“Then after losing my dad at just 11 years old, I realised I was not alone and many other children and young people lose parents and loved ones at such a young age.
“This made me realise that I have always wanted to help others that have to suffer the same pain and emptiness that I felt throughout my years of grieving.
“I think the work the Touchstones team does is inspiring and has to this date already helped change so many young lives.
“I want to support them to keep doing so long into the future.”
She added children often found it harder to share their pain or hide it away as they do not want to make things harder for their loved ones.
“They can feel very alone – especially knowing their friends can’t really understand.
“Most important of all, Touchstones will help children and young people who are struggling to see a good way forward, regain hope and confidence in themselves and their future.”
Siana’s total is so far up to £650.
Visit localgiving.org/fundraising/sianasbigjump/ to boost her coffers further.
