A COMINS Coch man with a fear of heights will take part in a fund-raising skydive for Hywel Dda Health Charities to support the fight against the pandemic.

Gareth Whalley’s girlfriend is an NHS junior doctor and his mum is a nurse, so he knows the difference that health workers are making as a mass vaccination programme gets under way.

Later this year the 26 year old Navy Outdoor Instructor will face his fears and take part in a fundraising skydive for Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official NHS charity for Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

He has also organised a raffle to secure much needed funds.

“When I do the skydive, I will be absolutely terrified,” Gareth said.

“I’ve not done one before and I’m scared of heights.

“Once the skydive is done I will feel relieved and a sense of accomplishment.

“I’m doing this to say a huge thank you to the NHS staff, who have been through so much.”

Gareth’s mum Heather is a nurse at Hywel Dda and has worked in the NHS for over 40 years.

She says the whole family is proud of Gareth.

“My current role is a Team Leader for School Nursing in Ceredigion and I now feel privileged to be a coordinator for the Covid immunisation programme, initially at Cardigan, but now at the Thomas Parry Centre in Aberystwyth, which is my home town.

“The NHS has meant a great deal to us as a family, initially when my daughter Rhian was first diagnosed as a Diabetic Type 1 at the age of seven, and now as she is pregnant with her first child, the care she is receiving has been exceptional.

“We as a family are very proud of Gareth for the work that he is undertaking to raise money for the NHS.

“He has taken himself out of his comfort zone by doing a skydive and now he has decided to raise further money by holding a raffle with fabulous prizes that have been donated by local companies from Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.”

He’s spent weeks sourcing prizes from across the three counties, but says it will be worth it if he can beat his fundraising target of £1,000.

Gareth says the prizes, which can all be claimed when COVID restrictions allow, include bed and breakfast for two in a 4* Spa Hotel with complementary spa access, a round of golf for 4 on a Welsh Championship course, and a family ticket to watch the Scarlets play.

“The raffle is taking more organising than the skydive,” Gareth said.

“I’m extremely grateful for all the local businesses for the unbelievably kind donations too, without them it wouldn’t have been possible.”

To take part in Gareth’s online raffle visit raffall.com/179793/enter-raffle-to-win-hywel-dda-raffle-extravaganza-hosted-by-gareth-whalley.