Mansfield Woodhouse support worker takes fundraising to new heights

A support worker from Nottinghamshire overcame her fear of heights and took to the skies in an effort to raise vital funds for a cancer charity.

Wiktoria Poparda went above and beyond with a charity skydive, raising £412 for Cancer Support UK, which provides emotional and practical support to those affected by cancer.

Wiktoria is a support worker at Cherry Tree House, a residential service in Mansfield Woodhouse for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, run by Cygnet Social Care.

“I wanted to take on the skydive in memory of my grandmother who sadly passed away from lung cancer in 2024. Losing her had a huge impact on my life and my mental health.” explained Wiktoria.

“Seeing first-hand the emotional, physical and mental toll cancer takes has shown me just how important it is to have the right support during such an overwhelming time. I wanted to do something meaningful to honour my grandmother’s memory while helping others who are fighting cancer.”

Motivated by a cause close to her heart, Wiktoria decided to tackle her fear of heights head-on and take the leap for charity.

She said: “Jumping out of a plane was a huge challenge for me, but it’s nothing compared to what those living with cancer go through every day. Cancer affects so many people and not everyone has access to the support they need.

“I wanted to show that even when something feels frightening, it can be worth facing your fears if it means making a positive difference to others.”

Wiktoria has worked at Cherry Tree House for seven months in her first care-based role and was commended by the team for her “resilience, dedication and outstanding empathy.”