Local duo skydive for Royal Berkshire Hospital

A father has taken a leap of faith by skydiving 15,000 feet to support the hospital that saved his daughter.

And Chris Kearey and his brother Nick took on the challenge on Friday 13th - all to raise funds for Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The jump was in honour of Chris’s daughter, Mabel, who has spent much of her young life in and out of the Royal Berks since her birth.

The duo are aiming to raise £1,000 in support of the Lion and Dolphin Wards, which played a critical role in Mabel’s care.

“We had never imagined our little girl would spend so much of her life in hospital,” said Mabel’s mum, Hayley.

Diagnosed at three months old with Dysphagia, a condition that makes swallowing extremely difficult, Mabel’s journey has included multiple ward transfers, exploratory surgeries, and long hospital stays.

For nearly three years, she has relied on a nasal gastric tube and the unwavering support of her medical team.

“There were nights I sat crying, scared out of my mind,” said Hayley.

“And a nurse — always a nurse — would just sit beside me, hug me at 3am, and help me feel less alone.”

To thank the staff who became like family, Chris and Nick decided to take on a fundraising challenge that pushed them far out of their comfort zone - especially for Nick, who’s afraid of heights.

“This is so much bigger than a fear of flying,” said Hayley.

“This is about giving back to the hospital that held our family together.”

Supporters can still contribute to the fundraiser by visiting justgiving.com/page/hayley-kearey-1

For more information, visit royalberkscharity.co.uk/skydiveformabel/