Skydive for Charity
Katie's Tandem Skydive for Breast Cancer Care Saturday 12 April 2008
Interim Partners Senior Administrator Katie Pickard braved the elements with a Skydive jump to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, here she recalls her exhilarating and unforgettable experience.
On Saturday 12 April 2008, I jumped out of a plane in aid of the charity Breast Cancer Care. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and fortunately she beat the disease but there's still a lot that can be done towards campaigning for excellence in breast cancer treatment and care.
Being thrown out of a plane at 15000ft, strapped to a man I'd only just met, probably wouldn't seem like the first obvious option for fundraising. I could have done a charity run, or sponsored walk but together with the fact that I turn 30 this year, I thought I would strike it off my tick list.
It was definitely the most exhilarating experience of my life so far. On the day of the jump I was surprisingly calm, my boyfriend Dean couldn't believe how composed I was but I think it might have been a case of being scared into silence.
My jump was delayed due to the weather but then my name was called and it was finally my turn and as I saw the rickety old Cessna, I did wonder what I was doing and how we were all going to fit in it, but we did.
It's very difficult to describe what I was feeling when my instructor, Baldrick, shuffled me to the door but there was no turning back so I tried to remember what they said in training and I lifted my legs off the ground so that he took all my weight and leant my head backwards and then he jumped, taking me with him.
We were in freefall for just under a minute and travelling at 120mph, and the views were spectacular. Baldrick span us a couple of times, which I wasn't expecting and then he opened the parachute for our slow decent back to firm ground.
I would recommend everyone to have a go at skydiving, it's a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Once you land you just want to get back up there and I'm so glad I did it.
If anyone would like to make any donations towards this worthwhile charity please contact Breast Cancer Care
