Two members of staff from international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary are taking to the skies in a tandem parachute jump to support the charity’s riding therapy work in Leeds. Lynne Aldridge and Laura Lambert aim to raise £1,000 by jumping out of a plane above Bridlington Airfield on 15th September.

Self-professed ‘adrenaline junkie’ Lynne Aldridge, who works as a cook at the centre in Eccup, explains why she will be helping ‘petrified but adamant’ riding instructor Laura Lambert conquer her fears in the name of charity:

“The Donkey Sanctuary’s Leeds centre provides donkey riding therapy to more than 180 children with additional needs each week. Laura and I are lucky enough to witness first hand just how beneficial this is for those children, and the enjoyment that donkeys bring to visitors to the centre and residents of care homes and hospices that we attend with our donkeys. We hope that our fundraising will help even more people benefit from time spent with donkeys.

“Please support us as generously as you can – it will make us feel so much more positive when we are teetering on the edge of that plane doorway, looking forward to several thousand feet of freefall at around 120 miles an hour! Any donations are very gratefully received. If you would like to donate online, you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/Lynne-Aldridge.”

The Donkey Sanctuary’s Leeds centre is situated in Eccup on the outskirts of the city, and has been providing donkey riding therapy for children with additional needs since September 1999. For more information, please telephone 0113 261 9249 or visit http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/riding-therapy.

For an interview, further information or images, please contact The Donkey Sanctuary press office on 01395 573097/573014, mobile 07970 927778 or via email.

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