I’m taking part in a skydive to raise funds for Tallaght University Hospital’s haematology ward. This is a cause that’s incredibly close to my heart. I’m doing this in memory of a very special lady—my nanny—who was not only a cherished part of my family, but also my best friend. She fought a brave battle with leukaemia, and despite everything, remained the most loving, strong, and inspiring person I’ve ever known. Losing her left a hole in my life that can never be filled, and not a single day goes by that I don’t think of her or miss her deeply.

This skydive is my way of honouring her memory while also helping others who are facing the same fight. Every penny raised will go towards supporting the incredible work Tallaght University Hospital does for cancer patients and their families, giving them hope, care, and the chance for more precious time with their loved ones.

The 8th of December 2014 is a day that I will never forgot. My whole world crumbled around me as my nanny took her last breath. She was at peace, she was out of pain..but my pain only began. Losing my nanny at just 11 years old gave me a whole new perspective on life as I grew older—one I never expected to have so early on in life. Her passing didn’t just leave a space in my heart; it opened my eyes to the importance of truly cherishing the people we love. The one piece of advice I’d give to anyone is to spend time with the people you hold close, because id do anything to have my nanny here experiencing the milestones I have achieved and the ones I have yet to accomplish. Even in her illness, she showed me what it meant to be strong. Cancer may have taken her from me, but it never touched her spirit. She faced each day with courage, reminding me that life is about how we love and how we live, not how long we are given. She taught me so many things—how to be kind, how to listen, how to keep going when things are hard. She found joy in the little things: a warm cup of tea with her favourite.. a Kimberly biscuit, a quiet moment in the garden andthe sound of her grandchildren laughing. Those are the memories I will carry with me. Even in her illness, she showed me what it meant to be strong.

Looking back, I wish I had told her more often just how special she was to me. She was my nanny, yes—but more than that, she was my best friend, the woman who helped raise me, my safe place, and someone who loved me unconditionally. It’s only after losing her that I’ve come to understand how much she shaped who I am. Now, I try to live every day with more gratitude, more presence, and more love for those around me, because the truth is, we never know how much time we have. Losing her taught me that the little moments matter most, and that we should never take the people we love for granted.

Any donation at all would be greatly appreciated whether it be big or small. If it wasn’t for the incredible care and treatment that my nanny received from TUH we wouldn’t have had added time to make more cherished memories with her which I think about day in and day out.

In memory of my loving nanny, Joan Jones