25 September 2024
Manchester Resident & Foresters Member Took the Plunge
Manchester resident and active member of Foresters Friendly Society, Brooklyn Andrew, participated in an exhilarating fundraising event to raise donations for conservation charity The Rivers Trust.
On October 26th, Brooklyn took part in an adrenaline pumping skydive, taking off from the Black Knights Parachute Centre located in Cockerham, Lancashire. The jump, originally scheduled for Sunday 25th August, was postponed due to poor weather conditions.
Brooklyn leapt from an altitude of 15,000 feet before parachuting safely back to land. During her descent, Brooklyn was freefalling at an impressive speed of 150mph – which is no small feat.
This challenge is part of a wider fundraising effort taking place across the Society – all to raise awareness and donations for The Rivers Trust, a charity dedicated to preserving and restoring rivers across the UK and Ireland.
Brooklyn shared “I took on the skydive to highlight The Rivers Trust and the importance of river conservation. We need to protect our rivers and their eco-systems for us and for future generations, and fundraising will help to generate the vital funding needed to help The Rivers Trust continue their work.”
Foresters Friendly Society has a long tradition of supporting charitable causes each year and for 2024/2025, their President has chosen The Rivers Trust.
Brook added “I really hope that my effort will inspire others to get involved or donate”, Brooklyn added, “any amount whether large or small, will help to make a difference. Donations can still be made through my Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/page/brooklyn-andrew-skydive-rivers.”
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer at The Rivers Trust, commented “Rivers are vital to our wellbeing, wildlife and communities, but across the UK are, generally, not as healthy as they should be. The Rivers Trust is hugely grateful to Foresters Friendly Society for their support in our work restoring rivers, and working towards a future of wild, healthy, natural rivers for all.”
Jo Andrew, Foresters Friendly Society President, added “On behalf of everyone at Foresters, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Brooklyn for her courage and support of our Annual Charity Appeal.”
On the day – Told by Brooklyn
I thought that I would feel nervous when I entered the plane, but I felt surprisingly calm. My instructor Chris was telling me what we could see from the sky as we flew over Cockerham, and I was focused on the fact that the plane didn’t have a door. It took around 15-20 minutes to fly up to the correct height. Thankfully the weather conditions on the day were perfect, so the views were incredible!
By chance, my jump coincided with the Black Knights 60th Anniversary and I was offered the option to jump from 15,000 feet instead of 7,500 feet, at a reduced price. Without hesitation, I said yes – and I’m so glad that I did.
I was told that my instructor and I had the highest combined weight that day, which meant that we would be freefalling at an increased speed of around 150-155mph. This meant that we would reach the ground faster than the others, so jumping from a greater height was a bonus.
The first thing I noticed as we jumped out of the plane was the sheer force of the wind. I had to keep turning my head to take quick, short breaths, but as the shoot came out to slow us down, I had chance to take in the scenery – it was so calm and clear. As we descended, I was able to wave at my daughter who was watching from the ground. The jump itself lasted for around 5 minutes, but it’s an experience that I will never forget.
The hardest part of it all was the landing. For safety and to avoid injury, I had to bring my legs up and tuck my arms under them, which I struggled to do. When we reached the ground, my son Izzac was waiting, shouting “Mummy you did it!”.
I would strongly recommend the experience to anyone wanting to take on a challenge and I would definitely do it again – but perhaps with a face covering next time. I’m so grateful to everyone who made a donation. So far, I’ve raised £3,885 which will help The Rivers Trust continue their important work.