MARGARET BUTCHER'S SKYDIVE PDF E-mail

In 2009 Margaret Butcher did a tandem skydive to raise money for The Nasio Trust.  Here's her thoughts after the event.

I did it!!! Thursday 4 June 2009 was a perfect day weather wise and I was at

the airfield in plenty of time.

I was delighted to meet up with Jonathan who had come along on behalf of Nasio, the charity for which I was jumping. Jonathan's wife Nancy is the lady who came and spoke to us at church and Nancy and Jonathan set up The Nasio Trust to care for children orphaned by HIV in Kenya. Jonathan stayed for the whole event which was great. I also had support from Gordon Grossart and Owain and Esther Hughes - many thanks.

After some hanging around the four of us who were all there for the same reason, were very thoroughly briefed by one of the instructors then it was over to a hanger to meet our partner, (I had Andy), and to get kitted out with overalls, hat, goggles and harness.

A little plane took us two miles up over the Oxfordshire country side. Then as they opened the door (more like a pull down blind!) we had to put on our goggles as protection from the outside air. After the other three had gone it was our turn to get to the door! I was so concerned that I had my hands in the right place I didn't have time to contemplate the launch but there I was free falling at 120 mph waving at the camera man, Alf, and grinning from ear to ear!

We had 40 seconds of free fall, then the parachute opened and we were floating down. After the noisy free fall it was so peaceful and there was time to look around - I could see the M40 and the A34 and the junction, the fields and the hangars etc - it was wonderful, fantastic - time stood still - and I would love to do it again just to appreciate everything more.

I cannot thank the people at Trinity enough for their wonderful support.

Your generosity exceeded all my hopes and your interest and encouragement have been wonderful. I was aiming at £500 but Trinity alone raised over that much, in fact to date you have raised £528! My final total may well be over £1500 and with Gift Aid added I hope it will be in excess of that.

The various reactions when I said what I was going to do were interesting. Remarks ranged from 'You must be mad!' or 'I couldn't do that!' to 'I would love to have done that!' Those who said the last comment were three ladies of our church, one of whom said she couldn't do it because of troubles with her ears and '....l will be 90 next year!'

With my love and thanks

Margaret Butcher