In November 2002 the guest speakers at Disc’s Annual general Meeting (AGM) were ‘Al and Swifty’ two bi-lateral amputees who were both into extreme sports – in particular skydivng.
After
this meeting a number of volunteers and members said they would love to do a
tandem skydive and could Disc help.
Funding
was then raised through ‘Awards for All’ and LACLA (Lancashire Adult
community Learning Alliance). The aim of the project was to celebrate
‘European Year of Disabled people 2003’ by taking a group of disabled people
to Langar, Nottingham for the weekend, a series of group exercises would take
place and on the Saturday group members would do a tandem skydive at the British
Parachute School, Langar. On their return they would deliver a series of
presentations to local groups on their experiences. The first of these would be
at Disc’s AGM in November 2003 – exactly a year after Al and Swifty came to
speak.
The First Weekend
Here are a few photos also, click to enlarge.
This
took place on the 13th, 14th & 15th of June
2003. Fourteen people ( 8 jumpers, 1 group facilitator and 4 support staff)
went
and all got a great deal out of the experience – even those who hadn’t gone
to jump.
The
group chose a name for themselves, the ‘Disc-ateers’ and a strapline, ‘Do
Disc and Dive’.
Group
members felt very strongly that it was a life changing experience and as such
other people should be given the opportunity. They also felt they wanted to stay
together as a group when the project ends in January and raise their own funds
to jump next year.
At their meeting on the 19th June the Disc Mgt Committee decided to continue to support the group by;
·
Making
the Disc-ateers an ‘official’ sub-group of Preston Disc.
·
Agreeing
that a second event be organised where 5 existing group members ‘mentor’ 5
young disabled people to take part in a tandem skydive.
·
Providing
some additional funding from their core budget for their second event.
The second event took place on the 19th, 29th and 21st September 2003. Twelve people jumped, 6 who had jumped at the previous event and 6 ‘new jumpers’. The jumpers had a range of impairments from visual impairments, people that were totally blind, mental health issues, cerebral palsy, spina bifida etc.
We
have started to put together the presentation which will be delivered for the
first time at our AGM on the 6th November.
Tandem skydives take place from 10 - 12’000 feet – sometimes even higher !
After exiting the aircraft – securely attached to an instructor – you freefall until the instructor opens the main parachute at about 5000 feet. You then spend around 30 seconds in freefall (depending on the exit altitude) and reach a speed of around 120 miles per hour !
The descent under the large square parachute takes several minutes, during which time you may help to steer it down to the landing area. It’s a wonderful view – you can see for miles on a clear day !
On the day of the skydive the instructors explain in detail what you have to do and what will take place on the flight up, the freefall and the ride down under the parachute.
Disc
contact details
Return to International Disabled Sky-Divers List.