Skip to main contentEnter
Join 7,200+ people who care about this town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

'My feet have always been firmly on the ground' – until now

Chris Bush and his brothers Sam and Jonathan Broom will swap solid ground for a 13,000ft freefall to support their sister's work at Suffolk mental health charity.

Why it matters: The skydive on June 14 aims to raise more than £1,000 for Suffolk Mind, highlighting the importance of mental health support services in the region.

Chris Bush, Jonathan Broom and Samuel Broom at the pub
Chris Bush, Jonathan Broom and Samuel Broom(Chris Bush)

The details: The brothers will take to the skies over Beccles, supporting their sister Nicki Bush, who works for the charity's Suffolk Work Well Service.

The fundraiser is part of an annual event made possible by sponsor Churchmanor Estates, whose Head of Communications, Emma Proctor King, will also participate.

What they're saying: "I've always wanted to do one – I've been saying it for years," said Chris. "So when Nicki told me I could do one for Suffolk Mind, it was a no-brainer. And I knew I had to rope my brothers into it."

"I'm really looking forward to it. I can't wait. My feet have always been firmly on the ground but this can't come quick enough."

Chris said he hopes his dive will be the first of many as he looks towards doing solo jumps.

Nicki Bush
Nicki Bush(Suffolk Mind)

The bigger picture: The brothers said Nicki's work helping people experiencing mental ill health reclaim their confidence has inspired them to take on the challenge.

"The work they do is really important. I don't think mental health is spoken about enough, especially for men," added Sam, who is "absolutely buzzing for it" and "can't wait" for the skydive.

The bottom line: Corporate support is also playing a key role in the fundraiser. Emma Proctor King from Churchmanor Estates said: "Jumping out of a plane is a daunting prospect, but if a few moments of personal bravery help Suffolk Mind continue its life-changing work, then the challenge is well worth it."

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of ICS and Insight Energy

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

Suffolk New College beauty graduate wins national award

A former Suffolk New College student who left Ipswich for Hungary in 2021 has returned to the spotlight after winning a prestigious national beauty industry award – and now plans to move back to open her own spa and training space.
by
Continue reading →
News

Half a million COVID and flu jabs given in three months

NHS figures reveal 500,000 vaccinations have been administered across Suffolk and North East Essex since the campaign began in October, with community pharmacies hosting 1,700 walk-in clinics.
by
Continue reading →
News

Revolution Ipswich among 62 bars facing closure threat

Revolution Ipswich could close after its parent company moved towards administration, putting more than 3,000 jobs at risk nationwide, though bosses say they are in advanced talks to sell the business.
by
Continue reading →
News

Sizewell B seeks £800m extension to secure around 600 jobs to 2055

EDF Energy announced it is seeking government backing for an £800m investment to extend Sizewell B's operations by 20 years beyond its planned 2035 closure, that would secure around 600 permanent jobs in Suffolk until 2055.
by
Continue reading →
News

Charity football tournament calls on businesses for Suffolk Mind

Commercial cleaning firm Vivo Clean has launched its first-ever charity five-a-side football tournament to help bring Ipswich businesses together for mental health support and raise vital funds for Suffolk Mind.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
7,260+ people are already loving it