Hospital Radio Burnley

Sally's 'big' Jump

Our Sally threw herself out of an aircraft at 13,000 feet and landed safely on terra firma strapped to a hunky skydiver...of course...to raise money for 'two very good causes'...and it happened on Sunday 13th of April 2008...This is how the story unfolded!

At 0730hrs on a very overcast Sunday morning, we arrived at the Black Knights Parachute Centre, Cockerham. Lancashire. On the horizon was the tell tale signs that Sally's parachute jump was imminent. A mass of lovely blue sky was about to open in front of us. After a bacon roll and a cup of tea, the presenters of the station began to put Sall's fears at rest. One comment was...Sally?? could I have your mobile?...very reassuring. This didn't deter the intrepid and fearless presenter who remarked "I have entertained thousands of people all around the world and Wigan, this doesn't worry me"

About 0850hrs, Sally and the rest of the 'fearless air-warriors' were taken to the classroom for a briefing on air safety and what to expect when exiting the aircraft. 20 minutes later a very relaxed party emerged from the classroom. A grin was well and truely appearing on Sall's face. "I am really looking forward to this" she said. Unknown to sally, her partner, 'Gary', had arranged to have her adventure captured on film.

0920hrs the party set off for the aircraft that had been dispatched to the runway and each was carefully loaded into the plane...I couldn't understand this because they just chuck them out at 13.000 feet.

After pre-flight checks, the aircraft slowly climbed and disappeared into the great blue yonder. Circling to gain height for a couple of minutes, finally the plane had reached the desired altitude and out of the craft peeled the brave souls. Too high for our array of expensive cameras...(60 quid from Argos)...to capture the images of their 3.000ft freefall. The parachute canopies opened like 'cherry blossom' on a warm spring day, at 10.000ft their colourful descent had begun. Soon we could photograph the parachutes as they slowly and surely made their way to the landing strip and one by one the tandomed bodies touched down with the grace of swans landing on a still pond. Sally and her skydiver were the last to land...on their butts...???

Grinning from ear to ear, Sally made her way back to base to disrobe from her fetching outfit. On her way back, Sally, managed to break off and reveal her exploits to a very proud and envious group of radio presenters.

Excerpts of the video and the total of the money raised will be published here very shortly...