Daring Katy went to new heights skydiving for Canine Partners.
Fearless Katy Evans, who has cerebral palsy, plunged 10,000 feet through the clouds to raise more than £1,000 for Canine Partners, an assistance dog charity which transformed her life.
Wheelchair user Katy was paired with life-transforming poodle-cross Folly in September 2013 and has raised enough money to purchase a puppy for the Charity which she hopes will one day benefit another person with disabilities.
Puppy Basil, who has been purchased from the same breeder as Folly, has now begun his journey to becoming a canine partner and is living with a volunteer puppy parent who will establish basic obedience, core tasks and socialisation skills before he moves onto advance training at one of the Charity’s training centres and matched with a disabled person.
Canine Partners trains dogs to perform tasks such as opening and closing doors, undressing, pressing buttons, retrieving items, unloading washing machines, taking card and cash from ATMs and other everyday tasks that disabled people find difficult, painful or impossible to do for themselves.
Selfless Katy jumped in tandem out of a plane in Swindon on Saturday 8th August while harnessed to the front of a fully qualified instructor with the hope of raising £800 but she has smashed her fundraising target.
Daredevil Katy, 24, from Rednal in Birmingham, said her canine partner Folly has given her the confidence and independence to be bold and try new things.
Katy, who was a Friends for Life finalist at Crufts earlier this year, added: “I’ve always wanted to do a skydive but I would have never had the confidence to do it before Folly came into my life – her enthusiasm for life has inspired to get out and experience life. The skydive was amazing, it felt very surreal to sit on the edge of the plane staring down at the ground with all the different coloured fields and tiny roads.
“When I was waiting to go I kept thinking about how the money would help someone else like Folly has helped me. The free fall part was the scariest as you go down so fast that you can’t breathe. Once the parachute went up I had chance to really enjoy the view. It was a very strange experience to be floating, looking down on everything.”
To sponsor Katy, visit www.justgiving.com/Katy-Evans3.
Katy, who now relies on Folly on a day-to-day basis, said: “If I fall she can fetch the phone for me, she helps me with so many small tasks which make a huge difference and she is great company 24/7. Folly is an unusual mix of breeds which attracts a lot of attention and answering questions about her has really helped to build my confidence. Whereas before I would have thought twice about some opportunities due to lack of self-esteem I now seize the moment just like Folly with her infectious zest for life.”