SIX brave fundraisers have plunged the depths and faced their ultimate fears to raise a pool full of cash for the Anya Bentham Appeal.
Five men and one woman donned wet suits and scuba gear before entering the Blue Planet Aquarium’s main tank to get up close and personal with sand tiger, nurse and lemon sharks as well as stingrays and huge moray eels.
Anya, two, of Christleton, Chester, is being treated at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool for an advanced form of an aggressive cancer called neuroblastoma.
An appeal to raise £250,000 to pay for her to have pioneering treatment in America, which is not available on the NHS, has been set up and has raised a staggering amount with dedicated fundraisers having already having passed the halfway mark.
Receptionist Holly Marr, 25, and 29-year-old security guard, Steven Griffiths, both of Connah’s Quay volunteered to take the plunge first as the divers entered in teams of two along with a trained dive team.
Holly, who raised almost £1,000 for the appeal, said: “It was absolutely amazing even if my heart was in my mouth!”
Steve Griffiths, who raised more than £500 for the appeal through the shark dive, added: “I have always wanted to dive with sharks and really enjoyed the experience. They actually seem much bigger in the water than they do through the glass tunnel.”
Anya’s mum and dad, Naomi Stanley and Graeme Bentham, have thanked the group of intrepid divers for their fundraising efforts.
Naomi, who met her partner Graeme at Connah’s Quay Power Station where they both worked, said: “We really can’t thank everyone enough. I grew up in Connah’s Quay and we have had so much support from Deeside people, it really is amazing.”
“The amount of money raised so far, both from Deeside and Chester fundraising groups is simply amazing. We really are so grateful.”
