On her 20th birthday, Ebony Lane-Searle decided to do the one thing that terrified her most.
Instead of a night out or a quiet celebration, she took a plunge from thousands of feet in the air in memory of her late nan. The student – who says she’s “insanely scared of heights” – signed up for a charity skydive to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice, the South Yorkshire organisation that cared for her beloved nan during her final days.
For Ebony, the leap wasn’t just about the adrenaline of a 15,000 foot drop. It was a way of honouring the woman who helped raise her.
Yet she is, it seems, far from unusual in doing this.
Across the UK, more and more young fundraisers are turning to high-impact challenges to support the charities that matter to them.
Endurance runs, cold-water trials and mountain-climbing are among the events surging in popularity. In 2025, indeed, UK charities raked in some £235 million through through organised fitness challenges and sporting events on JustGiving alone according to research by crmcharity.co.uk. And skydiving is said to be key among such events.
For Ebony – who lives in Sheffield – raising money was a way of honouring the care her nan received in her final moments.
“I wanted to do something big for my 20th birthday, something that would make me proud and make a difference,” she says. “My nan passed away in 2021, and St Luke’s Hospice cared for her and supported my family. The skydive was all for her.”
Her fear of heights made the challenge even more intense, but she says the emotional motivation outweighed the nerves. “Before the jump I was thrilled and excited,” she explains. “But sitting on the edge of the plane, knowing I was about to fall out of it, was genuinely the best feeling ever.”
As one of the UK’s busiest skydiving centres, Skydive Hibaldstow – located between Lincoln and Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire – has seen a significant rise in such charity jumps in recent years.
“Charity skydives [have become] a constant part of what we do,” says Charlie Diprose, 33, skydiving instructor. “A large percentage of our jumpers are fundraising all year round.”
Charlie believes the appeal lies in the balance between spectacle and meaning. “It’s one of those bucket-list things people dream about, and it has that element of risk that grabs attention,” he says. “You get to tick something off your list and raise money for a cause at the same time — it’s a win-win.”
Social media has played a major role in the rise. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have turned skydiving videos into viral content, inspiring others to sign up. “A lot of people find us through TikTok or Instagram,” Charlie explains. “When someone’s jump video goes viral, it sparks interest. We see people booking because they saw a reel.
“We get people jumping for hospices or charities that support someone they’ve lost,” he says. “Doing something out of their comfort zone makes the leap even more meaningful.”
Back with Ebony, this is exactly how she feels.
When her feet where back on land, she felt, she says, an incredible rush. “I had so much adrenaline that I wanted to do it again,” she says. “It felt like a rollercoaster you never want to get off.”
