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84 year-old great grandma jumps out of plane for charity after cancer diagnosis
October 19, 2015 11:42
When great grandmother Rosa Kingston was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she wasn’t about to sit back and dwell on the two months she had to live.
Instead, the 84 year-old decided to sky dive 13,000 ft from a plane.
Ms Kingston, did just that last week in a bid to raise cash for other women who are ill.
Initially, doctors at the Royal Marsden hospital, London, told her she only had two months to live in 2013, but thanks to the treatment they have given her, she said her life has been extended by two years.
“Royal Marsden doctors took me under their wing and have given me an extra two years and I can’t thank them enough.”
Speaking about her jump she said: “It was awesome. I was expecting a smooth, decent jump but it was quite traumatic.
“I was quite calm going up in the plane I felt equally calm when we jumped, the free falling bit felt like being in space.
“But it was when the parachute went up your stomach goes all over the place and you’re going up and down.”
The pensioner from Bushey in Hertfordshire added: “When I got down to the ground I was relieved. I felt so sick and eventually I threw up, and I felt better.”
Ms Kingston who has been given months to live after the treatment that has prolonged her life has stopped working said: “I set out to raise money to do it, and I'm so glad I did it because the hospital will benefit.“I’m not worried about what is going to happen. I’ve had the best life and in the two years I’ve had already I’ve celebrated so much family joy. I’ve seen my great grandchildren be born, and my grandson married.”
And she said her “Jewish spirit” had made her a fighter.“It’s what we do when something goes wrong we get up and fight it don’t we. I wanted to do something to raise money and awareness and that’s what I’ve done.”
She said she wanted more people to get scans because her type of cancer can sometimes go undetected. So far, she has raised more than £7,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. She said she chose skydiving because, having been forced to give up her hobbies of swimming and cycling, “It was the only thing I could physically manage”.The great grandmother, who attends Belsize synagogue with her family, said: “I’ve felt good about life every day since my diagnosis and at least I’ve achieved what I wanted. When I get to the gates I know I’m ready to see what lies ahead.”
To donate to Ms Kingston's JustGiving campaign visit www.justgiving.com/rosa-kingston
Watch 84 year-old grandma Rosa Kingston jumping out of a plane for charity
