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Sue Key Stone falls from the sky for Merlin...!
"...It was the best of times It was the worst of times...
High exhilaration combined with mind numbing fear to make an experience I can only describe as Magical!"
In August 2001, Sue Key-Stone travelled from Cornwall to Oxfordshire - a journey of some 6 hours, to perform a sponsored parachute jump in aid of the Merlin Project at the Hinton Skydiving Centre in Banbury Cross. This was the nearest parachuting centre that could provide suitable facilities for Sue and her wheelchair. Although the weather was bright when Sue and her party arrived, it worsened and the jump was delayed for several hours |
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Sue says:"I'm no good at waiting and the possibility of the event being cancelled due to bad weather conditions was devastating. All my party of supporters however, remained buoyant and cheerful throughout, assuring me constantly as they lolled about the picnic area eating and supping beer, that waiting was not a problem then suddenly I was given a flying suit to put on - and it was chocks away! In what felt like a dreamlike sequence I donned suit, helmet, goggles and rode across to the airstrip..." |
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...where I was lifted into the plane and harnessed to my Instructor, with whom I'd be doing the tandem skydive." Sue was not alone - another 5 'jumpers' also boarded the plane, these men however were experienced parachutists making the jump as a PR exercise, and being filmed for a group of South African Air Company directors visiting the country. They were supportive to Sue - in a way! "There was much light- hearted jesting on our ascending journey in the plane and I was treated to a variety of 'nerve calming' suggestions! |
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Sue continues: "...following a fleeting spasm of fear and a desperate 'What am I doing up here?' thought when the plane door was opened, I was suddenly being tipped head first into the clouds at 125 mph (the speed of the plane)" Sue and her instructor then went into 'Freefall' for around 50 seconds before the parachute opened - with a jolt! Sue continues. "...we were pulled back into the sky, and then suddenly everything seemed to stop dead, and in the stillness I could hear my heartbeat. Then the magic began for me, hanging as we were two miles above the Earth, we were able to talk and laugh whilst slowly diving and flying across the sky before beginning our descent to terra firma!" |
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The landing was expertly controlled, great accuracy was required to bring Sue in to a soft landing on the awaiting mattress: "It really was the experience of a lifetime for me, and moreover gave opportunity to launch our plans for the Cornwall MS Therapy Centre. The sponsorship support I have received has been incredible and overwhelming, and to date we have more than trebled my initial target of £1000..."
(In fact, the total sum raised was £4,600 from that one amazing jump!)"Now we can put our plans in to action for a centre that will provide a variety of therapies as well as information, technology and most of all, support for the people who need it - people with MS in Cornwall - it will be a great place!" |
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Thank you for taking the time to read this story! To find out how you can support the Merlin Project,
please visit the 'How you can support us' page for more details,
or
click the PayPal button at the top of this and every page
to donate directly.
All contributions are gratefully acknowledged. |
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