Altrincham care home team member raises £3,380 for charity

A team member at an Altrincham care home has taken to the skies and raised thousands for a national charity.

Shahvez Tauqir, Customer Relations Manager at Care UK’s Halecroft Grange in Hale Barns, jumped out of a plane at 15,000ft to earn £3,380 for Parkinson’s UK – a cause close to the team’s hearts. 

Shahvez took on the challenge of completing his first ever skydive on behalf of 85-year-old 

resident Philomena Woolley, who had wanted to complete the jump herself. When that was no longer possible, Shahvez stepped forward to fulfil her long-held wish, all while raising money for a worthy cause.

On the day, Shahvez completed a safety briefing before taking to the skies for the 15,000ft 

tandem jump at Black Knights Skydiving Centre. Tandem instructor Elliot and photographer Travis supported him and helped prepare him for the challenge.

Shahvez said: “I am thrilled to have stepped outside my comfort zone and embarked on this incredible challenge, with the added bonus of raising money for a charity that means so much to us here at Halecroft Grange.

“What makes this even more special is being able to fulfil Philomena’s long-held wish to go skydiving. Although she wasn’t able to jump herself, I was honoured to do it on her behalf.”

In the run-up to the skydive, Shahvez and the Halecroft Grange team raised £2,380. When Care UK learned about the skydive, they contributed a further £1,000, bringing the total raised for Parkinson’s UK to £3,380.

Suzanna Sumegi, Home Manager at Halecroft Grange, said: “We are all immensely proud of Shahvez for completing Philomena’s wish and for his dedication to raising money for Parkinson’s UK.

“We care for many residents living with this disease and we have seen first-hand how the experiences of individuals and their families can be transformed by having access to the right information and support. 

“Congratulations again to Shahvez and a big thank you to everyone who donated to such an important cause.”

Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence, Halecroft Grange incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities, including a café, hair and beauty salon and pub. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.