Skydive for Diabetes - Saturday 25th August 2007

Click here to open a gallery of the skydive and watch the video

Saturday 25th August 2007 was a big day for the church - Fr. Jamie Hawkey had been ordained for less than two months and already he was planning to throw himself recklessly out of a moving plane at 10,000 feet. So was he searching for the Heavens? Or had something put him off a life being throttled by a dog-collar? Well, neither - Jamie was simply raising money for Diabetes UK, alongside brother and Chairman Alex Hawkey by performing a Skydive for Diabetes at Redlands Farm, Swindon.

Of the experience, Jamie says:

"It was thrilling, exilaharating and terrifying! We had quite a long wait in the sunshine, but on what was the nicest Saturday of the year so far, we couldn't complain. Eventually, we went up in a bi-plane, with two members of the Parachute Regiment and flew above the clouds to just under the usual height of the Skydive Drop, because RAF Brize Norton were on alert at the next "level".

The only really terrifying part for me was the moment just before I jumped from the plane. As the side of the plane was opened, the cold wind roared in, and I was given a nod - the moment of truth. Falling out of the plane, at a speed of 120 MPH, for about 20 seconds before the parachute was pulled was simply extraordinary on this clear day when we could see such glorious countryside around. A life-times ambition to audition as the next James Bond was fulfilled - and in aid of a brilliant cause. And on top of all that, it gave me the best sermon illustration for Mass the next morning!"

Thus far, Jamie and Alex have raised over £1500 for Diabetes UK and would like to thanks everyone at Skydivezone.co.uk and at Redlands Farm. To sponsor either of them, visit Alex's JustGiving page or Jamie's Justgiving page.

If you are interested in doing a Skydive for Diabetes (or any other hair-raising activity!), please contact us - we will be more than happy to cover your event on the site.