A BRAVE office manager at a primary school is facing her fear of heights to help fund a new library for pupils.
Beverley Sands, senior administrator at English Martyrs School, will leap from an aeroplane at 13,000ft for a sponsored sky-dive.
She decided to take on the challenge to get the ball rolling on the school’s library project, and to fulfil a personal challenge which takes her out of her comfort zone.
She said: “I am starting to feel quite nervous now – but on the other hand I’m also feeling excited about fulfilling my challenge.
“The children, parents and staff from the school are all very proud of me and have been passing on lots of words of encouragement.”
Beverley, who has worked at the school for 19 years, says the library project is very close to her heart.
“The current library is far too small, and does not inspire the love of reading that we are so keen to give the children.
“The school’s main aim is to convert a larger room into an exciting space stocked with the best new books. We want our children to love reading as we do!”
Despite having already exceeded her fund-raising target of £1,000, Beverley is paying for the sky-dive out of her own pocket.
“No money will be taken from what is raised – I want every penny to go to this great cause. Any contribution, big or small, would be really appreciated.”
The school’s head teacher Gillian Deery was full of praise for ‘amazing’ Beverley for her corageous gesture.
“The pupils of English Martyrs School have a love of reading and enjoy nothing more than reading and sharing quality texts with their friends,” she added.
“We want our children to continue to love reading, and this will give them a purposeful new library to lose themselves in a book, as well as quality books to borrow and read at home.”
Beverley will take the plunge on Saturday May 25 at Hinton Skydiving Centre in Brackley.
Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/beverley-sands to donate.
