Brides flying high!
Dated: 13/05/2009
Well, we did it!!!
Eight adrenalin junkies took to the sky on Saturday 9th May to raise thousands of pounds for the MS Society. Organised by Avorio, six brides and two men willingly threw themselves out of a plane at 15,000 feet and hurtled towards the ground at speeds of around 120mph!
The group of dare-devils skydived with Target Skysports at Brigg, Lincolnshire. The brides all wore wedding dresses, and the two men were dressed by Fiona Greene and Tim Clark of Greene and Clark Bespoke Tailors. Anouska Semp, owner of Avorio, said it was a difficult task recruiting brides-to-be, though thought it might have been something to do with being worried about walking down the aisle on crutches!
All eight threw themselves out of the plane to raise money for the MS Society. Anouska’s sister, Sapphire Wheeler, was diagnosed with the condition six years ago and both sisters have been keen to raise as much money and awareness for the charity ever since. So far, the group of skydivers has raised about £5000, with more sponsorship coming in. This was Sapphire’s second skydive. She said “it’s so hard to describe the feeling – it’s amazing! I just want to go back up! It’s like nothing else on the planet- the rush of the freefall is such a thrill!”
Anouska said “I’m really proud of everyone, and so pleased that everyone had such an amazing experience. There were a couple of worried faces and a few trips to the loo!” One skydiver admits to being scared in the plane, wondering what on earth he was letting himself in for, but all fear left his body as soon as the plane door opened and he looked down 15,000 feet! “It was the most incredible thing I have ever done, and I wanted to go straight back up and do it again!”
Linda Fothergill and Sharron Crapper, both Senior HR Advisors at the University of Sheffield, also jumped. Sharron is already planning her next skydive and says that it was the most scary and incredible thing she has ever dared to do! Linda is slightly less hasty to do another skydive in the near future. Whilst she enjoyed freefalling two miles in 45 seconds, she much preferred the gentler parachute ride. “It was a relief to know the parachute had ejected and we had slowed from 120mph to about 6mph! The sky was blue, the sun was shining and I could see for miles. The instructor even pointed out the nearest pub from 3000 feet in the air! The team at Target Skysports was wonderful with me, really calming my nerves. Although I was worried in the run up to the jump, it was the most thrilling experience ever – I absolutely loved it!
For most, it was a once in a lifetime experience and a real personal achievement. Kathryn Semp, mum of Anouska Semp and Sapphire Wheeler, has always been a dare-devil at heart and managed to fulfil two of her lifetime ambitions. She said, “since being a little girl, I have always wanted to fly and have bizarrely always wanted to wear a Biggles hat! I did both in one go and had the most amazing time! I was so excited on the plane – all I wanted to do was hurry the other jumpers so it was my turn to jump!” Mum and daughters are now working on getting their husband and dad, Tadeusz Semp, to skydive though may have a job on their hands as he is terrified of even climbing a ladder!
Commenting on the day, Anouska said that she was grateful to all the brave people who dared to do such an incredible thing. “I’m over the moon with the amount of money that we have raised for the MS Society – thank you to all those who sponsored us. Watch this space for the next Avorio charity event!”
Brides flying high!
Dated: 13/05/2009
Well, we did it!!!
Eight adrenalin junkies took to the sky on Saturday 9th May to raise thousands of pounds for the MS Society. Organised by Avorio, six brides and two men willingly threw themselves out of a plane at 15,000 feet and hurtled towards the ground at speeds of around 120mph!
The group of dare-devils skydived with Target Skysports at Brigg, Lincolnshire. The brides all wore wedding dresses, and the two men were dressed by Fiona Greene and Tim Clark of Greene and Clark Bespoke Tailors. Anouska Semp, owner of Avorio, said it was a difficult task recruiting brides-to-be, though thought it might have been something to do with being worried about walking down the aisle on crutches!
All eight threw themselves out of the plane to raise money for the MS Society. Anouska’s sister, Sapphire Wheeler, was diagnosed with the condition six years ago and both sisters have been keen to raise as much money and awareness for the charity ever since. So far, the group of skydivers has raised about £5000, with more sponsorship coming in. This was Sapphire’s second skydive. She said “it’s so hard to describe the feeling – it’s amazing! I just want to go back up! It’s like nothing else on the planet- the rush of the freefall is such a thrill!”
Anouska said “I’m really proud of everyone, and so pleased that everyone had such an amazing experience. There were a couple of worried faces and a few trips to the loo!” One skydiver admits to being scared in the plane, wondering what on earth he was letting himself in for, but all fear left his body as soon as the plane door opened and he looked down 15,000 feet! “It was the most incredible thing I have ever done, and I wanted to go straight back up and do it again!”
Linda Fothergill and Sharron Crapper, both Senior HR Advisors at the University of Sheffield, also jumped. Sharron is already planning her next skydive and says that it was the most scary and incredible thing she has ever dared to do! Linda is slightly less hasty to do another skydive in the near future. Whilst she enjoyed freefalling two miles in 45 seconds, she much preferred the gentler parachute ride. “It was a relief to know the parachute had ejected and we had slowed from 120mph to about 6mph! The sky was blue, the sun was shining and I could see for miles. The instructor even pointed out the nearest pub from 3000 feet in the air! The team at Target Skysports was wonderful with me, really calming my nerves. Although I was worried in the run up to the jump, it was the most thrilling experience ever – I absolutely loved it!
For most, it was a once in a lifetime experience and a real personal achievement. Kathryn Semp, mum of Anouska Semp and Sapphire Wheeler, has always been a dare-devil at heart and managed to fulfil two of her lifetime ambitions. She said, “since being a little girl, I have always wanted to fly and have bizarrely always wanted to wear a Biggles hat! I did both in one go and had the most amazing time! I was so excited on the plane – all I wanted to do was hurry the other jumpers so it was my turn to jump!” Mum and daughters are now working on getting their husband and dad, Tadeusz Semp, to skydive though may have a job on their hands as he is terrified of even climbing a ladder!
Commenting on the day, Anouska said that she was grateful to all the brave people who dared to do such an incredible thing. “I’m over the moon with the amount of money that we have raised for the MS Society – thank you to all those who sponsored us. Watch this space for the next Avorio charity event!”
