Team skydives to raise funds for blind veterans

Work colleagues have come together to raise over £1,500 for our charity by skydiving from 14,000 feet.

Olivia, 22, and her three colleagues from EW Solutions in Lincolnshire, completed tandem skydives on 15 August at Langar Airfield in Nottinghamshire and have raised £1,545.

EW Solutions, where half the staff are veterans, chose to support Blind Veterans UK because they understand the importance of veteran support. On Armed Forces Day in June they held a bake sale in support of us and have now followed it up with this challenge. 

The skydive

Speaking to us after the skydive, Olivia says:

“This was my first skydive and I was lucky to be able to complete it with my colleague Jim who is a qualified instructor. I think overall this helped to ease my nerves and made me feel more comfortable.

“Jim took the full lead when it came to manoeuvring to the door of the plane. The only time the nerves kicked in was while hanging out the door of the plane with the pressure of the wind hitting my face. The first five seconds of the freefall were probably the scariest part as I felt quite disorientated but after that it felt amazing.”

Family and friends with sight loss

Olivia explains what it means to her personally to have raised money for our blind veterans:

“I’ve enjoyed raising money for the charity and learning all about what you do and how you help blind veterans. I have family and friends who’ve lost their sight and I know how hard it has been for them to carry on with their day-to-day activities. Having a charity supporting veterans going through this is so important for their mental and physical wellbeing.

“I feel so proud and amazed to have been part of this group who’ve raised this money and I’m honoured to have so many fantastic family and friends who have donated to support me and to support the charity.”

EW Solutions has already raised £1,545. You can support them to raise even more: