On the 17th April seven people including three teachers and three students from Oasis Academy Hadley took part in The Julian Campbell Foundation charity parachute jump. Together they raised over £2,000 for this great local charity, set up to support teenagers with depression and bipolar disorder.
The jump was held at Beccles Airdome in Beccles in Suffolk. The brave seven jumped 13,000 feet from a plane to raise funds for the charity. Unfortunately two more jumpers were unable to attend as they were prevented from travelling due to the Icelandic volcano.
They arrived at 9.00am on a fine, sunny Saturday morning. After being trained, they met their experienced jumpers that they were jumping in tandem with. They were then kitted out with jumpsuits and coached by the tandem jumpers.
They all took off in the plane which flew to an altitude of over 10,000 feet! They all sat together nervously talking about how they will get the courage to jump. The view of the sea below was amazing. One by one, after being harnessed safely to their tandem jumpers they jumped from the plane, experiencing free fall for over 30 seconds.
Jacqui Campbell, Founder of the charity said “I can't remember how long it lasted, probably seconds but it felt like minutes! My tandem jumper pulled the chord to the parachute and it felt like I was being catapulted upwards in the air, and then came the most amazing bit, being suspended in mid-air. It was incredible!”
The names of the jumpers were John McLean, Jacqueline Campbell, Joanne Elliot-Bent, Jordan Duberry, Craig Albani and Ryan Fowler. The student that raised the most was Ryan Fowler, who raised £375. Due to this, he won a prize, which was a free DVD taken of his jump as well as photographs taken of this unique experience. The member of staff who raised the most was Joanne Elliot-Bent, who raised an amazing £740 for the Julian Campbell Foundation.
Oasis Academy Hadley students all had a wonderful experience, they had this to say. Craig Abani said “It was a fantastic experience and I would recommend it”. Jordan Duberry said “The whole day was perfect, it was a brilliant experience and would do it again any day”. Ryan Fowler said “I have always wanted to do a parachute jump. Once out of the plane I went whizzing down and I felt a bit like superman. This was a great opportunity and I raised money for a great cause at the same time”.
It was such an amazing day, the Julian Campbell Foundation are planning another fund raising experience for Saturday 31st July. If anybody is interested in taking part or would like further information about this charity and it’s work please contact them directly at www.juliancampbellfoundation.org.
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