This charity was formed by a small group of friends in memory of Michelle Jurd, who lived her life to the full. Michelle died in 2009, aged 41, in a car accident in Cumbria, she was survived by her two daughters, then aged 2 and 4, and her husband, Neil Jurd.
Michelle was a helicoptor pilot, and had served as an RAF officer, raising to the ranks of Squadron Leader later in her career. She was the first female pilot to qualify as a navigator on Puma helicopters and saw service in various operations around the world, including the Mozambique flood response, and the Kosovo and Iraq campaigns. In both conflicts, Michelle flew in the first wave of the helicopters over the border.
