Plunging for pounds

13/09/2007

A daredevil water worker has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by taking a terrifying plunge to raise money for charity.

Sarah Johnson, who works in Essex & Suffolk Water’s St Mary’s Call Centre, performed a tandem parachute jump with the Tigers parachute team to raise £500 for SHIMS, a support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Sarah’s dad was a flight safety technician in the RAF and, although she learned to pack a parachute at the age of five, she has not had the opportunity until now to take part in a jump.

Her daring feat was made possible through Essex & Suffolk Water’s sponsorship of the Lowestoft Airshow at which the Tigers parachute team, which took part in the show, offered one employee the chance to jump with them.

The jump at Old Buckenham Airfield saw Sarah, who lives in Lowestoft, fall 5,000ft - the equivalent of one mile - from the Tiger team’s Nomad plane.

The Tigers are the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment Freefall Parachute Display Team and are one of the top display teams in the country.
  
Sarah, 36, said: “I was very nervous but also very excited to be given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I have wanted to do this for so many years and it certainly didn’t disappoint - it was thrilling. I am also pleased to have raised money for such a good cause at the same time.”

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For further information please contact Claire Bishop on 01245 212 010.