AN adventurous octogenarian told her late husband ‘I’ll see you in 20 years love’ as she reached for the skies on top of an old biplane.
Daredevil fundraiser Nancy Spencer finally fulfilled her latest dream of wing walking to raise much-needed funds for St Teresa’s Hospice, the charity which helped her late husband Brian, where she continues to volunteer.
She had planned to skydive for her 70th birthday but sadly lost Brian after he was told on Christmas Eve morning that he had cancer.
Ten years later she arranged the parachute jump again and raised £1,500 in advance. But then she was taken ill herself and had to have a pacemaker fitted at 80. Her consultant advised against doing the jump so she switched to a wing walk instead.
Heighington-born Nancy, who lives in Darlington, travelled to Wingwalk.Buzz at Leeds Airport East, Church Fenton, near York, and in front of her family and friends completed the 15 minute flight, crossing the skies strapped to the top wing of a Boeing Stearman biplane at speeds of up to 135mph.
“I said hello to Brian up there, he said he was very proud of me and I said I would see him in 20 years’ time,” said Nancy.
“It was exhilarating, amazing, scary at times, but fabulous, what an experience. I’ve just asked the pilot whether it has got rid of my wrinkles. I wouldn’t do it again but I would recommend anyone to do it as a one-off. The worst part was getting on and the wind in my ears, I should have had a helmet on or headphones, but it was amazing.”
Her daughter Lynn Bradley said: “We think she is mad, crazy, but it is my mum we are talking about at the end of the day so we know what to expect. We can’t put into words how very proud of her we are. She is an amazing lady.”
Nancy’s granddaughter Lisa Woodhouse added: “It was a better option than parachuting. I’m glad she was just sitting on a plane and not jumping out of one. I can’t believe she had a blow dry yesterday because she got a free one today.”
Over the years Nancy has taken part in a host of charity events including abseiling from the top of a hospital, It’s a Knockout contests and sponsored bed pushes, helping to raise thousands of pounds in the process. She hopes her latest venture will raise £3,000.
St Teresa’s Hospice needs to raise £4m a year to provide free in-patient and community care for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.
Its interim chief executive Nicola Myers said: “It costs us just under £4m to run the hospice and 70 per cent of that is realised by our lovely community. This is what Nancy is doing today. She is an amazing volunteer for the hospice and an incredible fundraiser and we are so grateful for what she does.”
Darlington MP Peter Gibson raised Nancy’s wing walk attempt during Prime Minister’s question time in the House of Commons.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard that – I cried,” said Nancy. “It is a really tough time for charities at the moment and we really have to try and help the hospice. When I think back to the work of Yvonne Rowe, who helped found the hospice, it would be terrible if we let it go. It is a very valuable facility which this area needs.”
Anyone wishing to sponsor Nancy should contact the Events Team at St Teresa’s Hospice on 01325 254321 or hello@darlingtonhospice.org.uk or visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/daredevil-nancy.