Member Article

Midlands accountants take to the skies to raise thousands of pounds for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind

A team at a leading tax and audit practice in the Midlands have touched down safely after raising more than £5,000 for a regional charity.

David Thomas-Walls, Emily Mathews, Vanisha Ranchhod, Andrew Vincent, Dan Maher, Kaitlin Wolfe and Scott Tandy from Coventry-based Spencer Gardner Dickins (SGD), took on the challenge of a skydive in aid of Coventry and Warwickshire Mind, the company’s charity partner for two years.

The charity is affiliated to the national Mind network and aims to ensure that anyone with a mental health problem gets the support they need.

The team have been preparing for the skydive for several weeks and finally took the leap from a Pacific 750XL XS into the skies over Nottinghamshire, raising £5,600 in the process.

From the aeroplane to the ground the whole experience lasted around four minutes and proved to be an exhilarating challenge for the team in aid of a great cause.

David Thomas-Walls, partner at SGD, said: “Nothing quite prepares you for it because it isn’t like anything you’ve ever experienced before. It was such a breathtaking few minutes but, admittedly, it was a relief to hit the ground safely!

“I am really pleased that we have raised over £5,000 for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind because it is an amazing charity that does crucial work.

“There is still a stigma around mental health but I don’t mind saying that I have been affected by it in the past and have seen others hit very hard. That is why we have nominated Coventry and Warwickshire Mind as our charity partner and why we also do everything we can as a business to support everyone in the team.

“We want anyone who works at SGD to feel fully supported and know that they can be open about any issues they may be experiencing because it can be life-saving.”

Jade Clarke, of Coventry and Warwickshire Mind, said: “We are thrilled to have been selected by SGD as their chosen charity for two years – having this kind of support is wonderful!

“They are actively working to break down barriers relating to mental health and this partnership is a welcome boost as our fundraising efforts have been hampered by Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.

“SGD’s support has been admirable and their efforts have shown no bounds. They are, quite literally, going above and beyond by taking to the skies for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

“The £5,000 of support will help us to increase awareness of mental health, reduce stigma and to reaffirm the message that no-one should have to face mental health alone. Thank you to everyone at SGD for not only raising money but for carrying that message forward too.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .