On 30 August 2024, 86-year-old Pauline Rodger, is proving that age is nothing but a number as she takes on a 10,000ft skydive to raise money for The Children’s Trust.
Pauline, who currently works as a volunteer at The Children’s Trust retail store in Sevenoaks, is aiming to raise £5,000, which will support the charity’s vital work in providing specialist rehabilitation, education and community services across the UK for children and young people affected by brain injury or neurodisability.
Pauline, who has volunteered for The Children’s Trust for three years, says: “People ask me why I am doing this… I say why not?! I don’t care about age and what people think. The important thing is to raise money to support children with brain injury.”
Gelly Caple, The Children’s Trust Shop Manager, says: “We are thrilled to have Pauline as one of our volunteers and we’re delighted by her decision to take on this challenge to raise money for our charity. The children and families that we support come to us at a traumatic time in their lives, and these vital funds allow us to fund a range of services; from specialist equipment used in our rehabilitation centre, to special family days out.”
Whilst this is her first skydive, Pauline is no stranger to adventure, having travelled and lived all over the world with her family. She is now retired and settled in Sevenoaks where she volunteers at The Children’s Trust charity shop; working behind the till, greeting customers and managing the shop floor.
Every year 40,000 children in the UK are left with a brain injury as a result of an accident or illness and many have to live with ongoing, long-term difficulties. The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. To help Pauline smash her fundraising target, visit justgiving.com/page/pauline-rodger-parachutejump or if you would like to find out more about The Children’s Trust and how you can get involved, visit: thechildrenstrust.org.uk