Reaching for the skies in memory of Michael
More than two years after her boyfriend died in a tragic car crash, Shana Nichols is set to take to the skies in a bid to raise funds for Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Service – the charity that battled to save his life.
Michael Dugmore, from Tanworth Lane, Shirley, aged just 21, was a passenger in a car which crashed head-on with an open top bus near Stratford-upon-Avon on 12th January 2012.
Both Michael and the driver, Mikey Abdou, from Hockley Heath, died in the collision.
Shana, who is 20 and from Wythall, had known Michael since she was 15 years of age – they were teenage sweethearts who met through friends.
“On May 25 it would have been our six year anniversary and three days later, May 28, would have been Michael’s 24th birthday.
“As these two dates are very close to my heart I’m doing a skydive in Banbury this week for the Air Ambulance Service in memory of Michael and also I want to give something back to them – they tried so hard to save his life.”
A security guard at Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull, Michael worked alongside Shana’s grandad – also a security guard.
She said he misses him terribly.
“Michael was very well liked and had a cheeky smile,” she said.
“He was a cheeky chap and just a genuine person.”
The Air Ambulance Service rescue almost 2,000 people every year. It costs around £1,400 to run an average emergency mission and it receives no funding from the Government or National Lottery.
“ I would love to raise £2,000. I’ve been promised £900 already from so many people including Michael’s motorcross friends and my old school, Lighthall, which is holding a non-uniform day. Every penny counts and I’m paying for the sky dive myself so all the donations will go straight to the charity.”
Speaking about her loss, Shana added: “People say I’m young and I will move on but I don’t intend to just yet.“
You can donate through Shana’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/shana-nichols or by texting MJSD80 plus the amount £ to 70070.