Community Activities
The sky was the limit for fearless Funeral Arranger Justin Hydes as he braved a 13,000-feet skydive to support St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford.
Justin, of Dawe Brothers Funeral Directors in Ledbury, joined the fundraising Flying Angels skydiving group to jump at Army Parachute Association Netheravon in Wiltshire.
Justin had previously attempted parasailing on holiday and took his wife on a hot air balloon ride for her birthday earlier this year. He explained he told his brother-in-law he’d like to attempt a parachute jump next.
Within minutes, his brother-in-law, whose mother had been supported by St Michael’s Hospice, had put him in touch with Mike Pullin from the Hospice Angels and he was quickly signed up for the tandem jump.
Justin said: “The nurses and volunteers at the hospice are wonderful, they create a bond and support the patients and their families until the end. It’s amazing to be able to do that for someone.
“My fundraising will help them to continue their work and that kept me focused when it came to jumping out of the plane.”
Strapped to an experienced instructor, Justin remained surprisingly calm as they prepared to jump. “I was taking in the beautiful view, the sun was shining and I could see as far as the Isle of Wight.
“It was phenomenal and something I’ll never see again in that way. The instructor took me through a cloud – that was like a sauna, I didn’t realise how warm a cloud is!”
As well as setting up a fundraising page, Justin held a tombola and raised funds for the Hospice from donated furniture, bringing his total raised to £1,500.
Hospice fundraising volunteer Mike Pullin, 83, who established the Flying Angels and has completed nine jumps, said he and Justin were now planning further fundraising activities together.
Funeral Partners contributed the cost of Justin’s parachute jump so all the money he raised could be donated to the Hospice.