Daredevil jumpers took part in a tandem skydive on Saturday, raising more than £12,000 for Wiltshire charity Alzheimer’s Support.
The event took place at Old Sarum Airfield near Salisbury as part of the charity’s 30th anniversary commemorations.
Among those taking part were 81-year-old support worker Tony Marsh from Semington; Sarah Marriott, Alzheimer’s Support’s community services manager who jumped to celebrate her 50th birthday, along with her sons Olly, 21 and Eddie, 18; and three members of the Across the Plain WI from Chitterne. The tandem skydive involved jumping out of a plane at 10,000ft, then enjoying 30 seconds of freefall at 125 mph before the parachutes opened.
Tony Marsh said, “Getting to the edge of the plane was really hard, but I enjoyed it so much.” Sarah Marriott said, “It was a wonderful day and jumping was a real adrenaline rush! The boys loved it.”
And Rachel Wilkinson, president of Across the Plain WI said, “Thank you to Alzheimer’s Support for the opportunity! We all loved it and were so glad that we could help raise some funds for them and have such an amazing experience. It was perfect and I am so proud of all of us.”
Babs Harris, Alzheimer’s Support’s CEO said, “We were delighted that so many people did the Skydive for Dementia and that they raised such an impressive amount. While they enjoyed the experience of a lifetime, their efforts will also make a real difference to the people we support in Wiltshire.”
Alzheimer’s Support will be holding another Skydive for Dementia on Saturday, 20th March, 2021. For more information and to sign up, visit alzheimerswiltshire. org.uk/Event/skydive-for-dementia
The Wiltshire-based charity supports more than 2,000 people with specialist dementia advisers and award-winning practical services including day clubs, home support and more than 40 community groups. It needs to raise £350,000 every year to continue funding them.