Redrow making a jump for charity

Mon, Jun 12th 2006, 11:00

A kind hearted staff member of Redrow Homes (Lancashire) Ltd is taking to the skies for a leap of faith to help raise money for a deserving young lady.

Darren Lever, a senior quantity surveyor at Redrow Homes (Lancashire), based in Chorley, will be taking part in the sponsored parachute jump this summer to help raise money for the Rachel Parkes Car Appeal.

His employer and colleagues have all chipped in to sponsor Darren’s jump, and he intends to make a sizeable contribution to the appeal.

Rachel has FOP (Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva), a rare genetic condition that causes bone to forms in muscles and other connective tissue forming a second skeleton that immobilises the body.

Darren says: “FOP is a horrendous condition but that doesn’t have to mean that sufferers have to stop enjoying life. Rachel is an inspiration to us all and being able to help raise the money for her appeal is fantastic. Staff throughout Redrow have been pledging their support and helping us to help Rachel reach her £10,000 target.”

Fourteen-year-old Rachel, from Bamber Bridge, has FOP and as a result relies completely on the use of her electric wheelchair to get around locally. The aim of the Rachel Parkes Car Appeal is to raise £10,000 so that the family car can be converted to become wheelchair accessible so that Rachel will be able to travel in comfort and enjoy trips with her family out of the local area. Her mum cannot physically lift her so she is unable to get in the family car presently.

Margaret Parkes, Rachel’s mother, says: “The money that will be raised really will make a significantly life changing difference to Rachel and it is the only way for her to live a normal life & not become completely housebound. We are extremely grateful to Darren & Redrow for their support.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Darren for his leap of faith on August 12th at the Black Knights Parachute Centre, Lancaster can contact him at darrenf.lever@redrow.co.uk or can pledge money direct to the Rachel Parkes Appeal, 7 Bowland Avenue, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 0BN, making cheques payable to Rachel Parkes.

Redrow’s Lancashire operation has its head office at Buckshaw Village, Chorley, and is currently building at locations across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.