More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
It was fifth time lucky for Paula Smith when she finally plunged out of an aeroplane for a skydive.
Her first four attempts had been thwarted by the weather.
But on Friday, March 29, the clouds parted for the manager of Sheerness East Working Men’s Club to raise money for three charities.
Paula flight video: Skydive Headcorn
She said: “I had always wanted to do a skydive after watching people on TV so my husband Dave booked a tandem jump as a surprise for my Christmas present.
"But while I was doing it for fun, I thought I should raise money for charity, too.”
She picked the Royal Marsden cancer hospital in Surrey, London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for children and Sheerness East Youth FC, of which she is a trustee.
Mum-of-one Paula, 45, said: “I didn’t have a specific target. I just wanted to raise as much money as possible as every penny will help the charities.”
This week her donations had topped £2,600.
She jumped out of a plane at 12,000ft over Headcorn airfield near Maidstone with Simon Soper of Skydive Headcorn.
She said: “It was amazing. It was a bit nippy up there, minus 5C, but I could see the Isle of Sheppey and even France.
“It took us 20 minutes of circling to get into position.
“When we were high enough the more experienced sky-divers jumped out and did somersaults and stunts. Then it was my turn.
“We did free-fall for a minute at 250mph which was really noisy, like having all your windows open in a car on a motorway.
"Then when the chute opened it went completely quiet. It was so peaceful we could have a totally normal conversation.
"The view was incredible and spectacular. I’d definitely do it again.”
Members of the club in Queenborough Road, Halfway, sponsored her and went along to give moral support.
Deputy manager Alison Dowling said: “There were half a dozen of us at the airfield wishing her luck.
"I think I screamed more than her. She was as cool as a cucumber.”
