Upperlands pensioner plans parachute jump in wife’s memory

The Upperlands pensioners sees it as “something worth while” to do in his wife Averil’s memory and anything he raises will be going to NICHS.

“If it helps someone else, I’ll be happy”, he says.

Averil passed away on January 27 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lympocemia of the lungs. Averil attended the respiratory support service provided by Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke (NICHS) in Magherafelt Hospital every week.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease.

People with COPD have difficulties breathing, primarily due to the narrowing of their airways, this is called airflow obstruction.

Typical symptoms of COPD include increasing breathlessness when active, a persistent cough with phlegm and frequent chest infections.

“I watched her (Averil) for a good year, two years, not fit to breathe. And it was absolutely awful, just watching that, it got to the stage where she was on oxygen and then the oxygen was doing no good,” said David.

“I saw her going out to the clothesline, coming back in and grasping for breathe over the sink. When you can’t breathe its awful. That’s the only reason why I’m doing it and if it helps other people in the same predicament, I’ll give them, every penny I get.”

David’s daughter Liz added: “What my father is doing is so typical of the man he is. He always thinks of others and not himself.

“It will be an experience of a lifetime and I hope he really enjoys it. As a family we love him to bits and only want what makes him happy. Go Dad!”

Visit David’s Just Giving page online to donate safely and securely at https://www.justgiving.com/David-Rowe4