Trust chief raises £16k for own charity after skydive (From York Press)

Karen Hilltribes Trust chief Penelope Worsley raises £16k for own charity after skydive

8:48am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

A YORK charity boss has raised £16,000 after celebrating her 70th birthday by jumping out of an aeroplane at 15,000 ft.

Penelope Worsley, of Heslington , decided to skydive to ensure children in a remote part of Thailand could continue going to school.

She originally aimed to raise £15,000 for the Karen Hilltribes Trust, which she runs from an office in Fulford , but went £1,000 better.

Speaking after the tandem dive above Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire, Penelope said it had been an “amazing experience – not that I would repeat it, particularly as the turbulence made me quite sick most of the way down”.

She said she had not “thought about fear”, adding: “I just went with the flow to achieve what I set out to achieve. The team at Hibaldstow were very helpful and kind. I did land with a bump and strained a few muscles but I am fully recovered and now rather amazed that I did it.”

The trust needs £450,000 a year to continue with its core projects of providing clean water supplies, safeguarding traditional skills and ensuring children are educated.

It was set up by Mrs Worsley 12 years ago in memory of her son, Richard, who died at the age of 24 in a road accident. She was determined to continue the pioneering work he had carried out when he was younger in remote Thai villages.

It has since raised more than £3 million and its work has dramatically reduced health problems such as typhoid, malaria and dysentery.

It has provided clean water systems for more than 100 villages, and is this year providing more than 500 latrines and showers, and 185 children who were educated through its work are now going to university.