For most people who’ve never been on an aeroplane before the first experience is perhaps a bit nerve-wracking, but spare a thought for one Loughborough pub manager who not only has never set foot on an aeroplane before, but has pledged to jump out of one for charity.
Ali Burnage, 28, assistant manager of the Unicorn on Biggin Street in Loughborough will take her first trip up into the skies in a light aircraft before jumping out of it at 10,000ft on Friday 5 May. She is hoping the challenge will raise lots of money for her chosen charity Rainbows Hospice for terminally ill children and their families in Loughborough.
Fortunately for Ali, she won’t have time to be too nervous as she will be busy over the next few weeks planning more charity fundraising events for Rainbows at The Unicorn, which is owned by Stonegate Pub Company.
Over the Easter weekend Ali will be coordinating two big events at the pub, a charity auction on Good Friday with prizes donated by local businesses including Nottingham Forest FC, Leicester Racecourse and Everards Brewery and a family funday on Easter Monday. The funday for children and their families will run from 10am until 5pm and include favourite Easter activities such as Easter bonnet making, an Easter egg hunt, face painting and much more. The cost of each activity will be £1 a child with all monies received donated to Rainbows.
“People keep saying I’m mad to jump out of a plane without even going up in one before but I’m actually very excited, said Ali. “My daughter can’t believe I’m doing it but when I heard about the service that Rainbows provides it made me want to do the challenge even more. I’ve already got £600 sponsorship money via my facebook page but I’m hoping to reach my target of £2000.
“We’ve an action packed weekend planned at the pub with our charity auction on Good Friday evening at 8pm and family fun day on Easter Monday”, said Ali, “We’d like to invite the people of Loughborough to join us over Easter, for what promises to be a brilliant start to 2012’s summer of fun.”
Ali can be sponsored online via their Facebook page or in person in the Unicorn.