A daredevil retired GP from Cheltenham is planning to throw herself 13,500 feet out of a plane later this year to say thank you to the hundreds of patients who have wished her well in her retirement.

Dr Bridget Nicolson worked as a GP at Leckhampton Surgery for 30 years and retired on New Year's Eve 2021. Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of cards and well wishes received from her patients, Dr Nicolson decided to do something to say thank you and give back to the local community by raising funds for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.

"When I announced my retirement last year I received so many cards and kind messages from patients," said Dr Nicolson. "I have not been able to thank patients personally, so this charity skydive is my way of giving back and saying thank you."

The idea for a sky dive came to Dr Nicolson in the summer last year. "When pandemic restrictions were eased I saw a parachute display by the Red Devils at an event I was attending with a friend. I turned around and said to her 'I'd really love to do that' and she said 'so would I' so I said 'well let's do it then!'

"I immediately thought 'what have I just said?', but when we spoke some more she said she wanted to do it in memory of a friend and I really wanted to do something to mark my retirement. After losing my sister at the young age of just 56 it made me think of all the things I have wanted to do too.

"My sister died of bone marrow cancer, so as well as raising funds for Sue Ryder I will be raising funds for Myeloma UK too as not many people know much about this form of cancer."

Through three decades of service as a Gloucestershire GP, Dr Nicolson has helped support many patients to receive end of life care at home, working with charities like Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, NHS colleagues and district nurses.

"Many people want to die at home and in Gloucestershire there are many partners who all work together to do their upmost to keep people at home if that is their wish. We try really hard to allow people to die at home," Dr Nicolson added.

"District nurses, social services, GPs all work together to make this happen, and with the support of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court's Hospice at Home team we know patients with a lot of nursing needs will receive a level of nursing care that will help keep them safe at home.

"The Sue Ryder Nurses come in and they do everything so calmly and kindly, you can just see families relax. Families know that there is a plan and they feel reassured by Sue Ryder's Hospice at Home team who support families just as much as our patients too."

Joining Dr Nicolson for the skydive in Wiltshire this May will be a group of friends from Cheltenham affectionately known as the 'Rugby Wives'.

"Six of us going to do the jump, all for various causes. We are an old group of friends whose husbands used to play for Old Pats RFC so we're known as the 'Rugby Wives'. It will be a great support to have them with me on the day. The jump organisers are hoping to get us all up on one plane so we can go in one run. We're all really looking forward to the excitement of the day.

"I am not nervous at the moment but I think nerves will kick in as we get nearer the day. It will be an adrenaline rush!"

Dr Nicolson has set herself the fundraising target of £500 for her charity skydive, and she hopes to tick an item off her bucket list too.

"I suppose when you get to my age you start to think of what is on your bucket list and want to do them," she said. "When I was a college girl my mates did a skydive once and I didn't join them. Ever since then I thought 'you wimp' and I have just wanted to do it. I'm feeling really excited as I have never done anything like this before.

"I wanted to do something to say thank you for all the well wishes from patients I have cared for. Raising funds for Sue Ryder is my way of thanking them for thanking me."

To donate to Dr Bridget Nicolson's skydive visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bridget-nicolson1 

For more information on Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice visit www.sueryder.org/leckhampton