A mum from West Hagbourne, near Wallingford, has completed a charity skydive to mark what would have been her son’s 15^th birthday.

Tara Sullivan took on the 13,000 feet challenge alongside her brother, Charlie Lee, at Hinton Skydiving Centre, near Brackley in memory of her son Harvey.

Tara said: “ What an amazing experience! I absolutely loved every minute of it. I know that Harvey would be so proud of me and I am just amazed by all the love that’s been shared – it means so much.”

You can support Tara's amazing efforts here Tara's sky dive on Harvey’s birthday 

She explains: “Harvey passed away following a battle with cancer last year when he was just 14-years-old.

“Throughout it all he was so incredibly brave and strong, and always thinking of others. He touched so many lives and is such an inspiration to me.

“I don’t feel like a particularly brave person and I am so scared of heights, but I know he would have done this if he was still here, and he gave me the strength.

“I can’t give him presents this year on his birthday, but by doing this challenge I feel like I have made him proud.”

Harvey was cared for on Kamran’s Ward at the Oxford Children’s Hospital and his family, friends and local community have been fundraising for Oxford Hospitals Charity to support the ward ever since.

Tara adds: “Wallingford has wrapped its arms around our family. We’ve had incredible support from everyone, the local pubs, sports clubs and Wallingford  School.

“It helps, because I want to keep saying Harvey’s name and doing things I know he would be proud of. We are aiming to raise a lot of money in his memory to help teenagers with cancer on the Ward, giving them a better space and more activities.

“I’d never done anything like this before, the highest I’ve ever been is up the Spinnaker Tower! I don’t think Harvey would be able to believe it as he used to tease me that I couldn’t even go on a fair ride.

“He was a talented sportsman and excelled in rugby. I still can’t believe he is gone.

“The fundraising is important because if we can make a difference to other families going through this, to help them take their mind off treatment, that will be the best achievement for us.

“It’s impossible to describe the feeling when you lose your child to something you have no control over, but for me being able to keep saying his name and doing something positive in his memory helps.”

Donna Meredith, Fundraising Operations Manager at Oxford Hospitals Charity added:  “It’s been a privilege to get to know Tara and support her incredible fundraising in memory of Harvey. We are so pleased that Tara and her brother Charlie had a fantastic dive and know that this is so much more than an adventure – this is a very special tribute to Harvey on his birthday.”

Please support Tara's amazing efforts here Sky dive on Harvey’s birthday 

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