A Wrexham travel agent has gone sky high to raise more than £2,000 for a hospice charity which supports terminally-ill children and their families.

Aoife Brennan, who works at Hays Travel in Wrexham, is more used to booking seats on planes not diving out of them, but her leap of faith from 10,000 feet has raised a whopping £2,200 for Hope House Children's Hospices.

She joined forces with her Hays Travel colleague Mel Arnold, who works at the Oswestry branch where Aoife used to work, to take part in the sky dive, which took place at Tilstock Airfield in Whitchurch in front of their cheering family and friends.

Hays Travel North West, which has close to 40 branches across north Wales and the north west, asks each of its stores to raise at least £500 for a chosen charity every year.

The Leader:

Hays Travel Wrexham’s Aoife Brennan takes to the skies

Both Aoife and Mel were keen to do something different from the usual cake sale fundraisers in their quest to generate vital funds for Oswestry-based Hope House which has a second hospice in Groesynydd, Conwy, North Wales.

Aoife, 19, said: "It was quite a leap from what we normally do - literally!

"It was amazing. It was a real adrenalin rush. I'm so glad that I did it and that I was with Mel, I couldn't have done it on my own.

"It was a bit daunting. We'd signed up months before so it didn't really feel real until near the time.

"I must admit a couple of weeks before the jump I didn't think that I'd be able to do it but in the end it was fine."

She added: "When the plane went up into the sky I was looking out of the window and I felt like I was going to cry.

"I closed my eyes when I first jumped out. You freefall for 30 seconds and that went quick. Then when the parachute went up it felt like forever.

The Leader:

Aoife Brennan and Mel Arnold from Hays Travel. Picture: Mandy Jones

"But I was a bit more relaxed then and could take everything in. All our family and friends were there waiting for us and we were waving to them as we came down. That was a great experience.

"I remember crying when we landed and giving Mel a big hug. I think it was all the emotions coming out. I don't think any fundraising event we do now will top that - but I do know my feet will be staying on the ground for the next one."

Mel, 36, who has two children, Dylan, eight, and Brayden, three, said: "It was unbelievable. Honestly I would do it again tomorrow! I love rollercoasters and heights don't scare me."

She added: "Having children of my own made me extra determined to support such an amazing charity which does so much for local families.

"We'd decided to do it back in January. We always do cake sales so we wanted to do something different and to raise a hefty amount.

"Hope House is a local charity who need support to stay open. There are people I know who have used it and it's a charity local people like to raise money for.

"I wanted us to do something out of the box that would make people want to sponsor us. Most years we raise £500-600 but because of the sky dive we've raised £2,200 which is fantastic and makes it all worthwhile."

"It's a cause that means a lot to so many and I'm so glad I've been able to do this. Hopefully the funds we've raised will help make a difference."

Rachel Lewis, Hope House Children's Hospices Area Fundraiser, said: "We’re so grateful to Mel and Aoife for their incredible bravery in taking on a skydive for Hope House.

"The fantastic amount they have raised will make a real difference for the children in our care.

"It is only thanks to amazing people like Mel and Aoife that we can continue to be here for seriously ill local children and their families, so their support really does mean the world to us.”