EMPLOYEES from a Basingstoke shopping centre took to the skies this month as part of a charity sky dive to raise much-needed funds for a cancer centre charity.

Four members of staff from Festival Place – Sean Taylor, Sarah Killingback, Ieva Bajorinaite and Jo Lush – took part in the charity skydive at the Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury for the Ark Cancer Centre Charity on August 9, raising over £1,300 for the cause.

The charity is on a mission to raise £5million to build a new £18.5 m state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre which will be located next to a proposed critical treatment hospital in North Waltham.

The Ark Cancer Centre Charity is the shopping centre’s charity of the year.

Previous events for the charity have included a Star Wars day, when stormtroopers i nvaded t he shopping centre and mingled with shoppers.

Sarah Killingback, guest host manager at Festival Place, said: “It was an amazing experience and doing it for charity made it so much more worthwhile.

“A couple of us were very nervous beforehand but now we just want to do it again. It has given us all such a buzz.”

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications at the Ark Cancer Centre Charity, added: “The team at Ark Cancer Centre Charity are very grateful to Sean, Sarah, Ieva and Jo for their daredevil fundraising feat.

“We are delighted that they had a thrilling and memorable experience, and with the support of their spons or s, t hey h ave given a big boost to the charity.

“The team at Festival Place is providing great support for the charity, and this latest contribution has clearly taken the fundraising to new heights.”

To make a donation to the group’s appeal, visit justgiving.com/Festival-PlaceSkydive1.