Charity SkydivePosted by karen |
Have you ever got excited, started planning something, and then when the realization sets in got really nervous and wished you had never started with the idea?
Well that’s just what happened to two young local girls! Here’s their story:
The gym I attend Curves Blackpool announced they were holding a special fund raising evening for Breast Cancer Care. As the arrangements were being discussed Jessica Aikman (a member) and Louise Toward (a fitness coach) started throwing ideas in the pot and then they had this great idea??
They would do a Tandem Skydive to help raise more funds for the charity!
Boarding the plane
They found a venue online and started gathering sponsors. Other members of the gym, family, friends and Skyparksecure all agreed to sponsor the girls.
The days ticked by and both girls went through a rollercoaster of feelings! They were anxious, kept waking up at night, had strange dreams. There were other times when they were excited and wondering what it was going to be like. But mostly they wondered what they had let themselves in for!!
Well the day finally arrived. The girls arrived early eager to get on with things. Louise said she was excited and couldn’t wait. Jess was nervous but just as eager to get on with the proceedings. They registered and attended the 20 minute training session. Then the wait began!
Louise ready to go!
The time seemed to drag on and on. We watched as others boarded the F-GODZ and took off over and over again then eventually Louise’s name was called. She went to the preparation room to get kitted out and meet her instructor who she had been paired with for the tandem jump. When Louise was ready another member of the club checked all the straps then she was on her way!
The plane took off over our heads and we watched it fly off into the distance until we could see it no more. Eventually we heard the drone of the plane’s engine we couldn’t see the plane as the cloud had built up. All of a sudden we started to see tiny dots falling out of the cloud then suddenly the parachutes were opening one by one. As we watched them drifting down we were able to pick out the blue and white parachute that we knew was Louise and her partner. He made the canopy spin round and round and then straightened it up and brought her across the sky and back round toward the landing mark in the next field. As we looked up we could see Louise waving obviously enjoying herself. They landed safely in the next field gathered up the parachute and carried it back to the preparation room. Mean while Jess was still waiting patiently for her name to be called.
Louise approaching the landing area.
Louise was able to relate her experience to Jess and enthusiastically go through the advice they had been given to them at the training session. Jess was becoming more and more frustrated she just wanted to get up there and get it over with. They called Jess’s name at about 12:30 and she went to get her parachute suit and harness on and meet her instructor. She too was checked by a second person. Safety was the top priority with all procedures were carried out and then double checked!
Jess was introduced to her cameraman who was going to jump with them and video the fall. Then it was her turn. They walked towards the plane and Jess was chatting excitedly to her partner and cameraman. Jess isn’t very tall so it was a bit of a climb to get into the plane and then they were off on their adventure.
Jess with her camera man
Over our heads they went again and the plane climbed steadily until they were 5000 feet above us. After exiting the aircraft they were freefalling for just over 30 seconds and reached a speed of about 120 miles per hour! The big square parachute was then opened and the rest of the decent took several minutes and the instructor steered them across the skies and down into the landing area. As Jess and her instructor approached we could hear Jess shouting to us. Then we saw her legs rise in readiness for her landing and then she was down.
Jess waving to us
The girls thoroughly enjoyed their Skydive and Jess said it was something we should all try at least once in our lives! I think I might just stick to spectating…….what about you?
Down safely with a grin from ear to ear
Both Louise and Jess would like to thank all the staff and instructors at Black Knights Parachute Centre Cockerham for looking after them and everyone who sponsored and supported them with special thanks to Skyparksecure for their contribution. The money raised is for Breast Cancer Care and the girls have raised £515 so far!
