COLLEAGUES at a dale archaeological practice are planning their first charity sky-dive in honour of a former boss.
Richard Fraser, co-director of Northern Archaeological Associates (NAA), died in January 2017, after being diagnosed with an advanced stage four butterfly glioblastoma brain tumour.
Since then staff at the firm, which he founded at Barnard Castle’s Harmire Enterprise Park, have raised more than £7,500 for the Brain Tumour Research charity.
In the latest adventure, administrative assistant Claire Parker and finance officer Sue Stanwix will be jumping out of an aeroplane at 10,000ft in what will be their first ever sky-dive.
Ms Parker said: “Throughout his illness and treatment, Richard never ceased to inspire us with his strength, determination, pragmatism and humour.
“The loss of a man who had given so much and still had so much to give, was both incredibly sad and such a waste of a life. He was a colleague, mentor and friend to all at NAA and is much missed by not only his family but also by his friends and colleagues.”
She added: “Since then we have both become friends with neighbours who are currently living with and fighting against a brain tumour and have known others who have sadly lost their battle. This jump is for them.”
Ms Parker said that since becoming aware of the illness she realised that it is not as rare as she had first assumed, but despite this the charity researching it receives just one per cent of all cancer funding.
Ms Parker said: “We hope that by jumping from 10,000ft we can raise some much-needed funds for this cause.”
They will taking on their terrifying challenge at Peterlee Parachute Centre, near Shotton Colliery, on September 10.
Ms Parker said: “We might be terrified but not as much as Richard, [wife] Lesley and [daughter] Janet would have been when they first heard those devastating words.”
Anyone wanting to support the fundraiser can visit justgiving.com/team/sueand claire.
