Anglian Water apprentice pays it forward to help schoolboy Hunter Martin

A teenage apprentice is preparing to jump out of a plane to help raise funds for school-boy Hunter Martin.

Ryan Barnes, 18, of Wisbech St Mary has spent his first-ever wage packet to pay for a skydiving experience and is looking for sponsors for his daring adventure on October 21.

All money raised will go to help six-year-old Hunter and his family as he battles the blood cancer lymphoma.

Ryan’s proud dad Andrew explained: “Ryan has always wanted to do a skydive after watching me do one a few years ago. As soon as he heard about Hunter and what he was going through he wanted to help and thought it was an ideal opportunity to do the jump.

“He is doing a two-year apprenticeship with Anglia Water and he received his first pay packet last week and he immediately used it to book the skydive. He spent the whole lot as the jump cost £260 and he took home £230. He wanted to pay for it himself so any money raised in sponsorship can go directly to Hunter and his family.”

Andrew said: “He is very determined and is hoping people will sponsor him, although a lot of people in the village have already got behind Hunter and his family through the Gofundme page set up by the football club.”

Hunter, who is the son of Ryan Martin and his wife Tanya, has a twin brother, Casey, and three other siblings – Keiran 22, Cody 16, and one-year-old Theo.

Ryan and Tanya were told a fortnight ago that Hunter has lymphoma and he has already undergone an operation before starting six months of intensive treatment, during which he will have to remain in hospital.

Ryan is the manager of the Wisbech St Mary Football Club’s under-sevens team, for which both Hunter and Casey play.

The club wants to help the family during the traumatic time they are facing by raising as much as possible and has set a target of £20,000. The response so far has been phenomenal and donations have so far totalled £13,838 – Ryan Barnes is hoping his skydive will add even more to that.

He will be jumping on October 21 from Sibson Airfield in Peterborough and his family will all be there to watch.