THE Cotswold Care Hospice in Minchinhampton has raised £2.3 million through its public appeal towards its new building, but a further £300,000 is needed to help make this dream become a reality.

The hospice needs £1 million to keep in business and it only receives a fifth of the money from the NHS - the rest is all donations. The hospice is now asking for adventurous people to do a 10,000ft freefall parachute jump to raise money for them. Gazette reporter Claire Marshall explains why she has volunteered to do the jump.

EVER since I joined the Gazette in June 2007, I have been struck by the amount of charity work that goes on in this area. Barely a week goes by when someone won't ring up or come into the office to tell me about a fundraising event they are organising.

Many local groups have worked tirelessly over the last few years to raise money for the new building at Cotswold Care. Now it is my chance to hopefully raise some money for this excellent facility in our area.

I remember interviewing a woman who had spent time at the hospice after suffering from aggressive breast cancer. Close to tears, she spoke about how the hospice was the only place she could relax among people who knew what she was going through and how the staff were like friends.

You may not have been to the hospice, but it could well play some role in your life or the life of one of your family members or friends in the future. People in Gloucestershire should be proud to have such an excellent facility that has been made possible through their own fundraising.

The idea of a parachute jump is both exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure and I only hope that I can raise enough money to encourage me to throw myself out of a plane 10,000 feet in the air.

I have always thought that a parachute jump would be a fantastic and exhilarating feeling - a real once in a lifetime experience, but I have never had a reason to do one. I wouldn't say I'm a thrill seeker, but I do enjoy a challenge and I will certainly need some courage to jump out of the plane. Doing the jump seemed a great idea for raising money becuase it is unusual and bold, so I hope people will get behind the cause and support my jump.

How to donate

Cotswold Care hope to raise £5,000 from the parachute event and each volunteer must raise a minimum of £405 to take part. If you would like to sponsor Claire in her parachute jump send the amount you want to pledge to the Gazette office Reliance House, Long Street, Dursley, Glos, GL11 4LS. Cheques should be made payable to Cotswold Care Hospice.