GP jumps from plane at 10,000 feet to fundraise for us

A GP from Stoke-on-Trent has completed a tandem skydive to raise funds for our charity.

Claire, who is 51 and from Mow Cap, travelled to Tilstock in Whitchurch to complete the jump on 1 June.

She was strapped to an experienced skydiver and taken in a small aircraft to 10,000 feet before taking a courageous leap of faith from the plane to enjoy the descent back to Earth. Claire said:

“A skydive is something I have always wanted to do. I found the idea quite liberating and wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone.

“When I turned 50, I thought yes, I’m going to do that skydive now. So last Christmas my husband bought the skydive for me as a special gift as he knew it was something I’d always dreamed of doing. You only live once, and I don’t want to have any regrets.”

Our ‘Victory over Blindness’ statue at Manchester Piccadilly Station had a lasting impact on Claire and led her to want to fundraise us. She said:

“I was in Manchester and saw the statue outside the station and then when I went inside there was a group of blind veterans recreating the statue wearing old military uniforms. They had been stood completely still for hours.

“It was hugely moving and I felt so humbled. It made me realise that I take my sight for granted doing simple everyday things. I went home and I looked up the charity’s website to find out more. It really was a personal thing that just moved me.

“These men and women have done so much for our country and I wanted to give something back.”

Claire was joined by her three children, husband, and her mum to support her on the day of the skydive. She said:

“I was feeling really excited and had no nerves at all. I think my family were far more nervous than me.”

“Before the jump I felt very calm, I felt safe at all times and couldn’t wait to experience the buzz of freefall and the feeling of gracefully parachuting down to Earth.

“The experience was all I had hoped for and more thanks to the team at Skydive Tilstock. After the jump I felt exhilarated and wanted to do it all again! Such a great experience which I would recommend to anyone – if you’re considering it, go for it! You won’t regret it."