A LOVING sister from Malvern who was set to skydive in memory of her brother has spoke of her disappointment after the leap had to be postponed.
Sonena Hodges , better known as ‘Nena’, was expected to complete a tandem skydive on August 30 in honour of her brother, West Mercia Police officer Dane Roleston-Lowe, who took his own life in January.
Nena described feeling ‘absolutely devastated’ when she received confirmation of the cancellation of her jump due to bad weather.
“I sobbed like a baby,” she said. “I’d used the skydive and the fundraising almost as a way to not have to think about the loss of Dane.”
“When it was cancelled, all that pent-up grief came flooding back, and I had an absolutely awful weekend.”
Despite the setback, Nena has already rebooked the challenge for April 25, 2026 – poignantly timed to coincide with Dane’s birthday on April 26.
“Doing it in April, on Dane’s birthday weekend, feels much more fitting. Weather permitting, that’s when I’ll finally jump,” Nena added.
As part of the jump, Nena is fundraising for men’s mental health charity, Talk Club.
So far, she has raised £2,370 through her JustGiving page, which will remain open until she completes the skydive.
“The support has been absolutely phenomenal. I can think of nothing I want to do less than jump out of a plane,” she added.
“I’m doing this for Dane, and for men’s mental health, because it matters.”
Dane served with West Mercia Police for more than 28 years and was based at Hindlip headquarters in Worcester. The Malvern native was a resident of Pershore.
When talking about her brother, Nena described him as the ‘sweetest, kindest man’. She said he was ‘charming and incredibly funny’.
After three previous suicide attempts in 2009 followed by years of mental health struggles, Dane took his own life on January 31, 2025.
Visit www.justgiving.com/page/sonena-hodges-1738683354988 more information.
Visit https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ for support.
