McKerrow family of Chard inch towards £50k fundraising target after skydive

Andy McKerrow did the tandem skydive at Dunkeswell airfield, near Honiton, on Friday – although his wife Kerry, who came up the idea, had to pull out for medical reasons.

Three of Kerry’s colleagues at South Petherton Hospital, staff nurse Nicola Price and health care assistants Sarah Martin and Ali Goodman joined Andy – all dressed as zombies.

The sponsorship money received brings the total the McKerrows have raised for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to £38,000.

They are trying to raise £50,000 for the charity, which will fund one hearing dog for its lifetime.

Kerry and Andy’s son Logan, now aged eight, began raising money for the charity in 2012.

Logan made a paper Olympic torch that went on a relay around the UK and abroad, raising £34,000 for the charity.

Logan’s story made national headlines and earlier this year he won one of the Chard and Ilminster News’ Pride of Somerset Youth Awards.

Logan’s older sister Tamsin, ten, has held cake sales to raise funds and grandad Paul Blackburn ran the London Marathon in April.

Kerry said: “It all started with Logan’s torch. We have a family dog, Dexter, and Logan wanted other children to have their own dog.

“We’ve just carried it on since then.

“I had the idea of doing a skydive because I wanted to do something to raise money that would be something I wouldn’t normally think of doing.

“I was gutted that I couldn’t do it for medical reasons but I’m so proud of Andrew, Nicola, Sarah and Ali.

“As a family, we love fundraising, and we have just got to think of our next challenge now.”

The family thanked their sponsors B Gibbs Funeral Services, of Chard; Chard Rotary Club; Prince of Wales pub, Ham Hill; Rosemill Feeds, Ilminster; Caravan & Motorhome Solutions, Chard; Wetroom Solutions, Halstock, Yeovil; Foto Finish, Chard.

Anyone who would like to donate can do so via a Just Giving page – justgiving.com/TheScreamingZombies or by texting ZOMB53 £5 to 70070.