Laura Senior’s partner Glen Dobbs is the owner of the popular Motor Matters
Laura Senior pictured with her partner Glen Dobbs(Image: Laura Senior)
A woman with a self-confessed fear of flying successfully completed a skydive to raise money for a charity that supports people who have cancer. Laura Senior, 31, was spurred to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support after her partner, Glen Dobbs, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour at Castle Hill Hospital.
Glen, 59, is the owner of popular car mechanic Motor Matters in Westfield Lane, Preston, East Riding of Yorkshire. The news of the tumour came as a huge shock, with his symptoms of dizziness and falls at first believed to be due to recent hip surgery.
Laura completed the jump on Wednesday. “It was really good, and I’d definitely do it again,” she told Hull Daily Mail. “I was nervous, but I thought I don’t have time for nerves.
“It’s just the thought of falling from the sky – it makes your belly go upside down – but it was such a good experience. Once you get used to falling, it is nice and peaceful.”
So far, Laura has raised just under £3,500 and said she is “so grateful” to everyone who has donated. “I think it is a big achievement in the short period of time I’ve had it open,” she added.
Laura said Glen was diagnosed with brain cancer on September 24 and given “two months left to live”. Since then, Macmillan has helped by providing advice about finances and benefits and checking in regularly.
Laura said: “He originally went in for a hip operation on the 29th of August and he kept losing his balance and falling over a few times. We just thought, ‘It’s because you are getting used to your new hip.'”
But Glen “kept getting dizzy” and falling more often, prompting a visit to A&E at Hull Royal Infirmary. Sadly, MRI scans at Castle Hill Hospital revealed the brain tumour.
Glen has had Motor Matters since 1997. It was originally in Wawne, then Burstwick, and finally its current home in Preston. Laura said Glen “built it up from scratch” and has “four great mechanics”.
Laura added: “I just want to tell everyone how great Glen is. He is a very popular man with what he’s been doing.
“When people think of Motor Matters, they think of Glen, and when they think of Glen, they think of Motor Matters. They come as a pair, if you know what I mean. People either know him, or know of him.”
Laura and Glen have been together for four years. Laura said he was immediately attracted to his “sense of humour” and said he was a “handsome man” and they’d been all around the world together.
“He is really kind, caring, softly spoken,” Laura added. “He is overall a fun guy – the amount of stuff we’ve done that a lot of people wouldn’t have done in a lifetime.”
At the time of writing, Laura’s Just Giving page is still open. Every donation will help Macmillan support people with cancer.
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