 After watching Adrenaline Junkie, my partner and I looked at each other and both said ‘I want to do that!’ So I got on the Endometriosis UK website and there I found everything we needed to get us started to do a sponsored tandem skydive. When the paperwork arrived, I was shocked at the dates we’d be given; we’d signed up in December and they wanted us to do it January. Looking back I think this is the best way to do it; it made it difficult to get nervous as you didn’t have that much time to think about it! I found that people were more generous with their sponsorship as you are doing something out of the ordinary. Despite the day seeming soon on paper I had raised the minimum in only a few days. Then I just had to wait for the day to come, and that felt the like the longest I have ever waited for anything.
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Clare and Katie in their fetching outfits!
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The day came and we had to be out the door at 6.30am to make the drive to Headcorn. Once I saw the planes lined up I knew there was no turning back. The first time a plane went up I watched it get higher and higher trying to imagine what it would be like for me. I am not going to lie; the fear of the unknown was overwhelming. I kept thinking: ‘what have I let myself in for?’ But when I saw the people who had just jumped, they were grinning from ear to ear, saying ‘I want to go again!’ This eased my nerves. |
Once in the gear (a fetching sky blue all-in-one, complete with harness goggles and a dodgy looking hat) we went through the jumping and landing positions and then we were off to the plane.
This was the first time I had been in a small plane and it looked so daunting, with a propeller and clear Perspex door. I climbed in sheepishly, it was a tight squeeze with 11 people sat on the floor. As we took off I felt my stomach drop. I kept my eye on my instructor’s gage, as we got to 4,000 foot I looked out the Perspex door and thought ‘come on this is high enough’. I was then told we were going to go up to 12000ft as it was such a clear day (initially it was only meant to be a 1000ft jump). I gulped as we got higher, then the light changed and the door opened! All of a sudden six solo jumpers stepped out together, now I knew it was my turn. As I sat on my instructor’s lap he bum shuffled to the door, the surge of adrenaline was overwhelming, the voice in my head was shouting ’Do it!’ At the door I sneaked a glimpse, all I could see was blue sky! As I got into the position I felt us tip over the edge, it was most intense amazing feeling, one minute all could see was blue, and next I could see the bottom of the plane. |
The rush was indescribable. Over the 30 seconds we built up great speed, then as the parachute was deployed a great calm came over me. It felt as if I was literally stuck in the air. I could see the beautiful views and the instructor was brilliant pointing out interesting landmarks, it was so surreal I felt like I was just having a chat with someone sat behind me, not high up dropping the height of a 20 storey building every second! Once I landed I had what is referred to as ‘divers grin’ - I just couldn’t stop smiling. I had achieved someone so amazing and raised money for Endometriosis UK. The instructor was excellent and made me feel at ease at all times, the first thing I wanted to do after the jump was go up again!
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Clare with a 'diver's grin'
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