Last Saturday, 6 September, Liz Webb, Ross Goodman, Tony Knight and Roger Simpson from LODI UK bravely faced the challenge of jumping out of a plane to skydive 13,000 ft for Macmillan Cancer Support.
So far their efforts have raised more than £4,600 but with funds still coming in they hope to reach £5000. And you can still contribute by visiting their Just Giving website. Every £1 will help and, don’t worry, you don’t have to reveal to the world how much you’ve donated.
Nervous smiles from team LODI – Liz Webb, Roger Simpson, Ross Goodman and Tony Knight
– before the big jump!
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As previously reported the LODI team had two exceptionally good reasons to make the jump because in 2013, two members of staff (Liz Webb and Hayley Fellows) were both diagnosed with different forms of cancer. Both felt like their whole world had been turned upside down by the disease but, with help and support from the Macmillan Nurses at New Cross Hospital, they came through all their treatment. That was when they decided they wanted to give something back and naturally they looked to their colleagues for support. Unfortunately Hayley Fellows went down with a sickness bug and couldn’t make the trip, so it was a depleted four-person team that took to the sky last Saturday. LODI’s Roger Simpson explains what it was like: “Our nerves really started to hit-in on the Friday with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. We arrived at Hintons Skydiving centre near Brackley at 08.30 hours and were welcomed by a warm but overcast day. We were informed that the skydive would go ahead but that we needed to wait for the clouds to clear. Time for more nerves to kick-in! “Our plane finally went up at 14.15 hours with Liz, Tony, Ross and myself all strapped to our professional skydivers. We each had to shuffle to the exit door on our bottoms and then basically dangle off the edge of the plane with only our professional left sitting on the edge. A couple of seconds go by and then we fall into the air, our tummies hit our throats and we hit 130mph, seemingly instantly. We freefall for 40 seconds and then our parachute is deployed before we gently float back down to Terra firma!! “What an amazing experience and very difficult to put into words. I am very proud of our team who took the plunge and raised a lot of money for a great charity! I would also like to make a special mention to Liz and Hayley who have shown immense strength in fighting their illnesses and been incredibly brave throughout! Two great ladies with a fantastic zest for life!” adds Roger. |
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Ross in freefall
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Waiting to jump – Liz Webb is cool under pressure as she dangles in mid-air before the professional skydiver she is strapped to exits the plane 