What did you do during the summer holidays?

Newham Recorder: Rhys Butler with Jack PetcheyRhys Butler with Jack Petchey (Image: Jack Petchey Foundation)

For 16-year-old Rhys Butler, it involved jumping out of a plane.

The St Bonaventure’s student took part in a skydive to mark the 15th anniversary of the Jack Petchey Foundation and raise £480 for Children with Cancer.

He said: “I chose to raise money for Children With Cancer because someone in my family was diagnosed with cancer and I know the pain it can cause.

“I want to help children with cancer and their families through their ordeal.”

Rhys and his mum Rosalind, who also took part in the skydive, raised the money by organising activities including cake and car boot sales.

They then took part in a tandem jump with a qualified instructor at the North London Skydiving Centre at Chatteris Airfield, Cambridgeshire.

Jack Petchey, founder of the Jack Petchey Foundation, said: “Congratulations to the young people on competing the sky dive.

“Each of them should be extremely proud of their fundraising efforts and I hope they enjoyed the day.”

The foundation has supported nearly five million young people through a wide range of programmes since it was established in 1999.