Teenage cancer survivor’s thrilling skydive raises £3,500 for our hospital

A teenage cancer survivor has raised over £3,500 for the hospital that treated her, taking on a tandem skydive to celebrate being cancer free.

18-year-old Jasmine Kalirai from Birmingham took the adrenaline-fuelled plunge on behalf of our charity, after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at our hospital when she was only thirteen years old.

After finding an unexplained lump on her neck, Jasmine went to the doctors. She was rushed to her local hospital, then transferred to our specialist paediatric hospital for an ultrasound and PET scan. Doctors then broke the devastating news that Jasmine had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a rare cancer that affects the white blood cells that help you fight infection.

Jasmine struggled to process the difficult news, and because she received her diagnosis during the pandemic, lockdown restrictions meant only one parent was able to stay with her, mostly her mum. The diagnosis was especially hard hitting for the family, as Jasmine’s granddad had been through his own cancer battle while she was growing up.

It was a challenging and isolating time for Jasmine, but alongside her family’s incredible support, she felt our hospital staff were truly there for her, reassuring her and helping her feel so much more comfortable and less scared of the future.

Jasmine said: “The consultants were brilliant. They calmed me down and helped me feel like I could do this.

“I was a very anxious child and quite shy, but the nurses really put me at ease, giving me time and not making me talk when I didn’t want to. They treated me amazingly.”

Over a few months, Jasmine went through gruelling and intensive chemotherapy to fight her cancer. It was extremely tough for a young teenager, but as lockdown restrictions eased, Jasmine was able to see more of her family again, and she felt much more confident about the future.

Jasmine continued to be monitored and treated here over the next five years, but this year she’s finally been declared cancer free. To celebrate this amazing milestone, the 18-year-old wanted to mark her journey by taking on a thrilling skydive to support the hospital that cared for her.

Alongside a group of friends and members of her netball team, Jasmine took the plunge, free-falling 10,000 feet in an adrenaline-fueled tandem skydive adventure. Her dad helped arrange the skydive and took the jump with his daughter to show his support.

Jasmine called out on her social media for people to support her efforts, and was thrilled to see the response, beating her initial fundraising target.

Jasmine said: “It was such an amazing feeling to see people donating. I was so excited, checking my donation page every day, and seeing friends and strangers chipping in to help.

“The skydive was really good, I wasn’t nervous at all, and when we reached the ground, I couldn’t believe I’d done it. I’m so grateful to my friends for supporting me, and I’ll always do anything to help Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “To receive a cancer diagnosis at 13 years old is so tough and we’re absolutely thrilled that Jasmine’s been declared cancer free.

“She has such a determined, positive spirit, and we’re awed by her support. The money she’s raised will make a real difference to our patients going through the toughest times.”