A PEMBROKESHIRE mother is aiming to raise £5,000 for local disability and mental health support with a 15,000-foot skydive in memory of her son.

Tina Foster, aged 66, first announced her challenge in March, two years after losing her son, Luke.

“In honour of my beloved son Luke Foster, who died suddenly on March 12, 2024 at the age of 37, I have booked a tandem skydive from 15,000 feet to support two local organisations I believe Luke would have wholeheartedly approved of.”

Tina, who moved to Pembrokeshire in 2018, told the Tenby Observer: “Luke was very intelligent and extremely well liked by those who knew him, though mental health problems - from a very young age and throughout his life - had an enormous detrimental effect on his life.

“Luke had a wicked sense of humour and had a heart of gold. He would have helped anyone in need, if he could.

“He was a qualified personal trainer but a gentle giant, standing over 6ft.

“He also loved animals. One of the lovely memories I have of him when he and his partner came to visit me, was the joy on his face visiting Folly Farm. He’d actually booked the tickets for us to go before travelling to me from Kent, where he lived. He didn’t mind what else we did throughout their stay, but to see the animals was a must for him.”

Tina doesn’t have to face her challenge alone.

“Luke should have been celebrating his 40th birthday on 23rd August this year, and I’m hoping to complete the jump on that very day, alongside my wonderful boss, Sam Warden, who has kindly agreed to take part with me.”

The two causes she is raising money for are both not-for-profit Community Interest Companies.

The first, Get The Boys A Lift (GTBAL), was established by a group of friends back in 2016, operating as a social enterprise, using funds from their coffee shop, clothing and fundraising to provide free and easily accessible mental health support for people across the community.

It was GTBAL that initially gave Tina the much-needed opportunity to talk, which helped her move through each painful, debilitating day. She remembers:

“After walking into their café in Haverfordwest, then breaking down into floods of tears as soon as I tried to speak, Get The Boys A Lift staff comforted me with compassion, much-needed hugs and a long chat, which then led them to providing me with weeks of counselling.

“If I could raise some funds for them to be able to carry on doing just that for others, I would be so grateful,” she adds. “Luke would have benefited from having help from an organisation such as them.”

The second organisation Tina is raising funds for is Windswept Watersports.

Windswept is dedicated to offering inclusive and accessible water sports for people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly those who are disabled or disadvantaged. Their work enables individuals to experience activities many might otherwise never have the chance to enjoy.

As she builds publicity and support for the skydive, Tina has posted on social media:

“If you’d like to help me and my amazing boss Sam Warden raise money for Windswept Watersports, which will be put towards the building of a desperately-needed changing area to give wheelchair users a safe and dignified place to change - it will also include equipment to hoist them - then please consider donating, no matter how big or small, even if it’s the cost of a cup of coffee or a bar of chocolate.

“These lovely people at Windswept give disabled and other disadvantaged children and adults the chance to enjoy the sea, either on it or in it, which many of us are able to do and take for granted. Imagine being an adult and never having had the opportunity to experience the feel of the sea on your body. Windswept gives them that opportunity.”

Tina works for a Community Interest Company herself. She says working for Milford Haven-based Value Independence CIC over the last year has helped. “Helping others gives me purpose.”

Value Independence provides care and support to vulnerable adults in Pembrokeshire, promoting independence and giving everyone voice and choice over their own lives.

One of the directors of Value Independence, Sam Warden, agreed to accompany Tina on her skydive, having been involved in a similar fundraiser last October with Jane Mackay.

Sam told the Tenby Observer: “I feel that doing such a dare devil challenge is not only amazing but courageous. I am honoured to be a part of this event.

“Tina is also a valued member of our team and her contribution to our clients goes above and beyond. She is much loved and all of Value Independence supports her for this event.

“The beneficiary organisations are a fantastic choice as we have known GTBAL since they started, they have helped several members of our team with Counselling and have always been quick to help.

“Windswept have been providing water sports to our clients for several years and we want every disabled person to be able to access their service with dignity, so a change facility with hoists is essential and will make Windswept far more accessible to the wider community.

“I met Tina Foster through work, and agreed to support her with the skydive because firstly, she has been through so much and it’s been an incredibly tough time for her.”

Over three years, Tina lost her brother, two sisters and, tragically, her son. She has a daughter and son-in-law and two grandchildren whom she loves with all her heart but they live in Fife, Scotland, so she’s not able to see them as often as she would like.

“There are no words to describe the feeling when you lose your child,” says Tina. “I need to talk about Luke, to keep saying and hearing his name, and knowing that I’m doing something positive, to raise money to help others in his memory, helps.”

The skydive is booked for August 23 with GoSkyDive in Swansea.

“At the moment I’m looking forward to the jump because it’s giving me something to focus on,” Tina adds. However, as the date draws closer, I’ll be feeling quite nervous. My love for Luke and the reasons why I’m doing it will be what gets me through the challenge.

“I’m 66 yrs old and need to do something out of my comfort zone to raise money for Get the Boys a Lift and also Windswept Watersports. Something that I’m sure Luke would have been proud of me for doing as I know he would approve of the two causes that I have chosen.

“I’m not religious but I’m hoping that being so high while falling through the air might make me feel a little closer to him somehow.

“Maybe I need to scream.”

In the lead-up to the skydive, Tina has been “truly overwhelmed” by the amazing support she’s received so far. “It truly means the world to me,” she says with heartfelt gratitude for all those who have kindly donated and shared her JustGiving page.

Tina’s JustGiving page is found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tina-foster-1, and any donation, no matter how big or small, will be very gratefully received.