A DAREDEVIL fund-raiser is ready to become Rugby’s own Fall Guy when he takes on a series of white-knuckle challenges for charity.
Dave Gooden will jump from a plane, co-pilot a Spitfire and scale the UK’s highest mountains in the space of just one week to raise money for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
He will start the adrenaline-packed week at the end of this month with a 13,000ft tandem skydive with the world-famous Red Devils’ team in Wiltshire.
Then over the next 24 hours, Dave and a support team will climb Britain’s famous Three Peaks – Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Yr Wyddfa, aka Mount Snowdon, in Wales.
Then Dave will co-pilot the Spitfire from Biggin Hill over the White Cliffs of Dover.
Builder Dave said he can’t wait for his adventures.
He said: “I always had things I wanted to do and then my dad, Sydney, died of cancer in 2022.
“It was a horrible thing to see, and it gave me the wake-up call I needed to get some order in my life. There are so many things I want to do, and I know I don’t have forever, so I started to come up with a list.
“However, it felt selfish to do it all for myself, so I decided that I would fundraise.
“I went to see Rainbows and I saw what the families, babies, children and young people go through, and it blew my mind. I also wanted to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust as their work is so important too.
“I want to involve the children and young people in what I am doing. So I will be taking pictures drawn by some of the children from Rainbows, and showing them to people on each challenge.
“I will get them all signed, and they will feature on a film that my brother Lindley is making about the challenge. I hope this will make them feel directly involved in these once-in-a-lifetime adventures.”
It isn’t the first time Dave has supported Rainbows. Last year he donated £2,000 for an open ticket to Twycross Zoo, which meant Rainbows’ families could enjoy a day out.
Rainbows Community Fundraiser Kerry Laurie said: “What Dave is doing is absolutely incredible and we cannot thank him enough for his support.
“Without our fund-raisers, we wouldn’t be able to provide care and support to over 750 babies, children and young people with serious and terminal illnesses.
“We hope Dave enjoys his challenge and we can’t wait to see the film.”
Dave has set a £7,500 fund-raising target – and has already raised over £2,000.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/56efxeuu to sponsor Dave.
