Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke and that affects not only the individual but also family and friends.

 WHAT AM I DOING?

I am undertaking a skydive on 11 October to raise money for The Stroke Association.  I will pay my own expenses so that your donation goes to the charity. 

 WHY THE STROKE ASSOCIATION?

The Stroke Association (www.stroke.org.uk) helps victims in various ways, not only undertaking research into the ailment but also providing support, both material and psychological, as well as providing an information service and training for carers.

 WHY A SKYDIVE?

Even after 74 years on this planet I have a great fear of heights and suffer vertigo even at the top of a step ladder!  This will increase my motivation to do well for The Stroke Association as I jump out of a ‘plane at 15,000 feet and will see nothing but thin air below me for some distance.  After 50 seconds of free-fall at 120m.p.h. the parachute will open as we then gracefully descend to earth. 

 HOW CAN YOU HELP?

 Please give generously to assist others (and maybe those close to you).  If you have any questions feel free to contact me at strokedive@hotmail.co.uk.

Thank you

 Lawrence

 Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.  Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never give, sell them on or send unwanted emails.  Once you donate they'll send your money to The Stroke Association and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a U.K. taxpayer.  So it's an efficient way to donate.

P.S. Jumping from the 'plane at 25000 feet was an interesting (in the Chinese sense) experience as we came out sideways only to be faced by a vast expanse below and no visible means of suppport!  My instructor decided to make it more interesting (again) by ensuring we did a somerault so that I had a view of the sky and aeroplane above me.  However, we soon descended facing the earth!  The freefall was exhilerating but also strange because I did not have an experience of falling because, presumably, I did not have any frane of reference.  The 50 seconds of freefall, during which time we descended nearly 2 miles, flashed past  and, suddenly, the parachute opened and we glided gracefully to earth.  My instructor allowed me to manipulate the parachute (albeit with his maintaining control on the descent) and the experience was soon over.

The school and my instructor were superb and soon quelled any fears I might have following the death of a skydiver a few days earlier.

The Stroke Association still needs more funds and I will be grateful if you will add sponsorship monies.  Thank you