Lumo to take fundraising to new heights with charity skydive for Daft as a Brush

A brave colleague at the open access rail operator Lumo is preparing to take on a thrilling skydive challenge in support of the company’s official charity partner, North East based Daft as a Brush.

On 15 August 2026, David Hughes, Lumo’s Head of Safety, Security and Sustainability, will jump from a plane alongside members of the Daft as a Brush team and the charity's dedicated volunteers to raise much-needed funds for the organisation.

Daft as a Brush provides free transport for cancer patients travelling to and from chemotherapy and radiotherapy appointments, helping thousands of people across the North of England access essential treatment. The charity relies on donations and fundraising efforts to keep its fleet of iconic blue ambulances on the road and delivering this vital service.

The skydive forms part of Lumo's ongoing partnership with Daft as a Brush, which was announced at the start of the year. Since then, Lumo has shown its support through onboard fundraising activities, pin badge sales and customer Delay Repay donations.

Lumo’s David Hughes commented: “The dedication shown by the team and volunteers at Daft as a Brush is incredibly inspiring and I'm proud to be playing a small part in helping raise funds and awareness for the charity.

"I'd be grateful for any support people can give ahead of the big jump. Whether it's a little or a lot, every contribution helps us get closer to our fundraising goal."

Jen Claire, Service Delivery Director at Lumo, said: “David's willingness to take on such a remarkable challenge demonstrates the commitment our colleagues have to supporting the communities we serve and the causes that matter to them.

“We're incredibly proud of our partnership with Daft as a Brush and the outstanding work the charity carries out every day. We wish David and everyone taking part the very best of luck for the skydive and hope their efforts inspire even more people to support this wonderful organisation."

Andrea Glover, CEO of Daft as a Brush, said: “We are delighted that David is taking on this challenge in support of Daft as a Brush. Every donation received helps us continue providing free transport to cancer patients who depend on our service to access treatment.

"The support we have received from Lumo, its colleagues and its customers throughout our partnership is fantastic. We are incredibly grateful to David and all those taking part in the skydive for helping us raise awareness and vital funds for the charity."

Anyone wishing to support David's fundraising efforts can donate via his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/dhskydive

Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care completes thousands of patient journeys every year, ensuring individuals undergoing cancer treatment can travel safely and comfortably to their appointments with the support of its dedicated volunteer network.

Lumo’s East Coast Main Line services are proudly based in the North East of England. Lumo was recently named the UK's best value rail operator in the Rail Customer Experience Survey (RCXS), achieving an impressive 90% overall customer satisfaction score and ranking among the three highest-performing long-distance train operators for the period covering October 2025 to March 2026.