Don't look down ...
May 2007
Brave Kirsty Holt, an employee of Sheffield based Close Credit Management, openly admits to being terrified at the prospect of leaping out of a plane two miles above the landing spot – but is determined to do it.
Kirsty, originally from Bury in Lancashire, celebrates her 21st birthday the day after the jump and is hoping to raise more than £500 for Cancer Research UK. So far, she has reached the £200 mark with help from her colleagues and friends.
She said: “I have had loads of support from everyone at Close Credit Management and they are really buoying me up, knowing how worried I am about the jump.
“I have tried not to dwell on it too much before the day, but it’s one of those things that you think more about as the moment gets nearer. It’s a good job this is a tandem jump with me strapped to an instructor, because he will need to jump to get me out of the aircraft!
“I have never done anything like this before, but my Grandfather passed away just under a year ago after battling cancer for a number of years, so I feel really passionate about supporting the cause and raising funds in his memory.”
The Jump will take place from a light aircraft at Cark Airfield, near
Grange over Sands in the Lake District, on May 19th – weather conditions permitting.
Once Kirsty leaves the plane, she will freefall for the first 7,000 ft at an average speed of 135 mph, before the parachute is deployed, allowing her to enjoy a sedate five minutes descent to the landing zone.
Anne Roberts, Head of Marketing at Close Credit Management, said: “Kirsty is incredibly brave to sign up for a parachute jump and she has the backing of everyone in the office. With a bit more support, she should make the target of £500 and who knows, she may decide to take up skydiving as a hobby!”