Two Soroptimists from South Lancashire Region recently completed a sponsored skydive. Victoria Smerdon (SI Widnes, regional President Elect) and Margaret Baker (SI Bolton, regional Vice President) took to the skies to raise money for the North West Air Ambulance.
Margaret said, “At 15,000 feet the Earth is a beautiful place, and the inside of a perfectly good aeroplane is a sensible place from which to view it. The plane will turn soon and return safely, descending slowly and gracefully to the runway so far below. So to sit back and enjoy it would be a very good idea … Then again, one could open the door and jump out; freefall 10,000 feet at 125 mph and open a parachute at 5,000 feet to float gently down to the ground.”
“How does one describe that? The instant of falling from the plane, the point of no return, the rush of air, its strength and power, far stronger than you. You are alone in your own strange, alien world, invisible to those on the ground so far below – and all you can do is lose yourself in the experience.
“The rush, all too soon, gives way to a more gentle descent with the parachute opened. Nevertheless, the landing field approaches at an alarming speed. So it’s feet up (or else!) for a gentle slide on your bottom to a halt. Well that’s the theory.
“Then the realisation and glance skywards – did I really just do that?”
Victoria added “My original parachute didn’t open and went to the reserve ‘chute. I don’t think I realised that at the time! However, apart from that, everything went smoothly and I did a perfect landing.”
Sponsorship for the North West Air Ambulance came from all over South Lancashire Region and the cheque presentation was a happy occasion.