Jacky reaches new heights for stroke charity

MediCare Monkstown employees Mandy Clarke, Jacky Rea, Stephen Houston (pharmacist) and Lisa Millar hand over a cheque for £1,450.45 to Kate Gorman of the Stroke Association NI. INNT 37-501CON

After being inspired by stroke survivors from the Association’s Newtownabbey Support Group, Jacky Rea recently took on a 13,000ft tandem skydive in support of the charity.

With the help of her colleagues from MediCare Pharmacy Monkstown, Jacky raised a fantastic total of £1,450 for the worthy cause.

Not satisfied with one adrenaline-filled challenge, she also completed an abseil 279ft down Belfast’s Obel Tower last weekend to raise even more funds for the charity.

Don't look down: Jacky Rea braves the 279ft abseil down the side of Belfast's Obel Tower. INNT 38-502CON

“I think my family think I’m having a mid-life crisis,” the 44-year-old mother-of-three joked.

“I absolutely loved the skydive and I would love to do it again. The abseil was really scary though.

“I don’t know whether it was because I was on my own and with the skydive I was doing it with someone else, but it was terrifying. I would never do an abseil again,” she said.

The money raised by Jacky will support the Stroke Association’s awareness campaigns in Northern Ireland and help the charity provide assistance to more people living with stroke locally.

Jacky thanked her colleagues and customers for their generous donations in support of her fundraising efforts.

The money was handed over to Kate Gorman, a volunteer with the Stroke Association NI.

Kate had a stroke at the age of 19 and now volunteers with the Association’s Newtownabbey Support Group, which meets each Thursday morning in Mossley Pavilion, 10am - 12pm.

For more information about the Stroke Association’s services call 028 9050 8020 or email [email protected]