Newsletter 28 - Different Strokes

Parachute jump 8In October 2004 I attempted a parachute jump butwas cruelly thwarted by the wonderful UKweather! Many generous people sponsored me inmy efforts to raise money for Different Strokes; myaim was to raise badly needed funds for theorganisation but also to mark the fifth anniversaryof this cruel and devastating illness. I wasdisappointed (relieved!) that I was unable to do thejump, once up there … 13,000 feet and sitting bythe open door I realised just how scary theprospect was, but I’d made a promise, and apromise is a promise. However, I did eventuallyget to jump, and this is how it happened.I am currently doing voluntarywork in South Africa, which ishard both physically andemotionally, so volunteersare inclined to play as hardas we work—me included!One night shortly after myarrival, the other volunteersintroduced me to Flashbacksbar where I met a 6’3” dropdead gorgeous hunk calledJimbob, who turned out to bea parachute trainer andqualified tandem jumper, andby the time we partedcompany that night I’dagreed to let him give me thebest experience of my life.Weeks went by and anythoughts of parachuting wereforgotten as the work tookover and kept my days filled.Then one day I received anearly call from Jimbob to tellme conditions were perfectand he was on his way over to get me, todaywould be the day I would kiss the sky. I felt itwould be churlish to feign a headache so I quicklygrabbed a jersey and tried to eat somebreakfast—I didn’t want to die on an emptystomach!We arrived at the airstrip and I was introduced toour pilot—he didn’t look more than sixteen—and Ilooked in dismay at what we were about to fly in.On my last attempt I thought the plane was tinybut this one would only hold five people includingthe pilot, and the only way we could fit in was bysitting on each other’s knees.We flew for 30 minutes over the coast, my nervesdiminished as we flew low over schools ofdolphins, hammerhead sharks and whales, theview was spectacular and I found myself hangingout of the doorway running off reel after reel offilm.We climbed to 10,000 feet, and I felt my safetystraps being tightened in preparation, I was told toput my feet on a little step outside the plane, then Iwas gone—Jimbob and I somersaulted out of theplane and we were flying, plummeting freefall at125mph, but it felt slow and quiet and I felt I was inheaven. Jimbob was right—it was the bestexperience of my life.POLLY FELL FROM THE SKY!After 35 seconds thatfelt like hours theparachute floweredabove us and webegan riding the sky,arms outstretched andwhooping with delight,all sense of time wasgone as we twisted andturned and flewtogether on an airstream. Jimbobloosened my strapsand removed mygoggles so I could getthe full effect—the windin your hair will foreverhave a differentmeaning for me.All too soon the groundwas rushing towards usand I became awareagain of the weight ofmy body. The landingwas smooth as we bothregained our feet and I found the feeling of earthunder my feet an unwelcome sensation after theweightlessness in the sky.With many thanks to Polly for raising£1,615 for Different Strokes.I stayed charged with adrenalin for at least24hours after; everytime I thought of the jumpevery fibre in my body would soar, I wanted to bein the air again, and I realised with dismay thatafter just one hit I had become addicted.I know I will continue to jump when I return to theUK, but there they don’t have the laid back attitudethat is prevalent here, codes are strict and I will beencased in a flying suit and safety helmet, so Imay never get the chance to feel the wind in myhair again.