Laura jumps for joy in aid of hospice

Laura Wild Parachute Jump

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Three months ago I made the decision to do a tandem skydive in aid of Springhill Hospice, since then I have been raising money and looking forward to the big day – today (Sunday 21 March 2010) it finally arrived!

My adventure began when I arrived at the Black Knights Parachute Centre near Morecambe Bay just after 7.30am. The weather was overcast and I was unsure if the jump would go ahead. However after filling in some forms and having a training session the sun had come out and before I knew it my name was called from the tannoy. It was time.

Prior to the parachute jump friends and family had been asking me how I felt, if I was scared or nervous. Until this morning at 9.30am I wasn’t, but that all changed when I was 14,000 feet in the air, wearing a jumpsuit, hat and goggles attached to a professional sky diver.

The nerves had kicked in, my mouth was dry and my toes were curled up, but I was also tremendously excited. I was seconds away from jumping out of a plane; my instructor made sure everything was clipped together and we were ready to go.

As we edged towards the plane door I tried to remember everything I had been taught in training, I got in position and with the wind battering against my face I jumped.

I had my eyes wide open looking down and around whilst trying to remember how to breathe; my lips were cold from the wind but I was relaxed, I had to be, I was freefalling at 120mph.

As I embraced falling through mid air I realised we had hit 6,000 feet as I felt the parachute open, my instructor Paul Yeoman said: “You will be pleased to know that the parachute has opened.” I laughed, a little nervously, but it then crossed my mind I was completely mad to have just jumped out of an aeroplane, what if the parachute hadn’t opened, I thought.

Paul pointed out various things in the distance by spinning us around, including Morecambe and Blackpool. I must admit however, spinning round in mid air did make my tummy go a little funny, so I asked Paul if we could take it easy.

As I looked down towards the parachute centre I could see the other people from my plane landing, it was my turn next.

Slowly Paul and I began to descend, in doing so we practiced the landing position; I had to put my legs as straight as I could with my hands behind my knees and my toes pointing up. As we came closer to the field, Paul told me to get ready so my toes were up in the air and I was ready to land, I then put my legs down and hit the ground.

As the staff from the parachute centre took of the harness I was overwhelmed with what I had just achieved.

My legs felt like jelly and I was really thirsty but I was ecstatic.

My skydiving experience was overwhelming – if you have never done it before I really recommend it.

It feels fantastic to have accomplished the jump and I am very happy to be handing over £815 to Springhill Hospice.

Thank you to all my sponsors and to everybody who has supported me.