A grandmother aged 93 who recently completed her fifth charity wing-walk said she was inspired to take off from her home by an advertisement for chocolate bars.
Betty Bromage from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire performed a complete loop strapped to a plan over Rendcomb Airfield near Cirencester on Thursday as she raised funds towards the palliative care charity Sue Ryder.
Ms Bromage, who took on the fundraising challenge with wing-walking team AeroSuperBatics, said the idea to take to the skies first came to her when she was watching an advert for a Cadbury’s Crunchie bar.
“I wanted to do this to prove to myself that I still can,”Ms. Bromage stated.
Betty Bromage from Gloucestershire performed a complete loop (Sue Ryder/PA).
“Wing-walking is not something I had ever really thought about, but I wanted to raise funds for charity so I started to look into the things I could do.
“At my age I can’t run, so I looked for other ideas and took inspiration from the Crunchie wing-walking advert.
“I thought ‘I reckon I could do that’ and that’s what started me off.”
Ms Bromage, who has arthritis in her neck and a pacemaker, has been fundraising since the age of 87 and has already raised more than £23,000 for local charities.
As a token of appreciation for her sister in law’s care, she took on the challenge to raise money to Sue Ryder Leckhampton Hospice.
At my age I can’t run, so I looked for other ideas and took inspiration from the Crunchie wing-walking advert.
Betty Bromage, a Wing-Walking Betty Bromage
“Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice helps so many people,”She spoke.
“They looked after my sister-in-law and they were so kind to her.
“They cared for a few of my friends over the years too. They are such a genuine charity.”
She said that she is “lucky”To have the support of her family, especially her daughter-in law and grandsons. “back me up all the way”.
She claimed that she wanted to inspire others. “do some good”She hopes that her fifth wingwalk will make a lasting impression.
“I think we should all do some good and we need to help one another – that is what we are here for,”She spoke.
“There are a lot of very kind people out there and if we can help our neighbour and help our friend then we should.
“I have always tried to do that as it was the way I was brought up.”
To donate to Ms Bromage’s high-flying fundraiser visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bettyswingwalk2022