Flying high - Helen during her skydive. Photo: Alex Turner, AirAffair
NEWS editor Helen Backway talks about jumping out of a plane at more than 10,000 feet in aid of charity.
I've lost count of the times in the past few months when someone has told me how brave I am.
In truth I surprised myself. I am always the girl holding the bags while other people are screaming with glee on the world's scariest looking rollercoaster.
But a parachute jump is always something I've wanted to do.
And with News Shopper supporting hospice charity Demelza's £6.5m campaign for a new hospice in Eltham I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to fulfil a life's ambition and help raise money for a thoroughly worthy cause.
Rather than thinking about the impending jump over the next two months I threw myself into the fundraising.
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Posters went up around the office and on noticeboards around News Shopper's patch, and stories went in the paper and on the website and intranet.
I risked falling out with my friends, family and colleagues as my chat was dominated by the skydive and my demands for sponsorship.
It's all over - Helen lands safely back on the ground. Photo: Alex Turner, AirAffair
But as the day drew near (and the jokes about skydiving myths and disasters grew more and more tiresome) I was starting to wonder what I was doing.
The thought of the amount I had raised and the ribbing I would get if I didn't do it were the only things which kept me going.
I had chosen to do a tandem skydive (where you are strapped to an instructor) so there was nothing I could do physically to prepare before the event.
In terms of mental preparation I avoided all disaster movies, all talk of skydiving accidents and basically thinking about what I was doing too much.
Then a couple of days before, blizzards were forecast and I was struck by how much worse it would be if the whole thing was put off.
Arriving at Headcorn Airfield, near Ashford, at 7.30am on the day the whole thing felt a little unreal, even as others started to turn up and paperwork was filled in.
Then we had a safety briefing to practice our technique for falling out of the plane (arms crossed, head back, hips out and legs out) followed by our landing (legs out) to avoid any injuries.
As nervous laughter filled the room our instructor assured us that he did 250 jumps last summer and there hadn't been problems with any of them.
But then I opened my eyes and we were literally on top of the world
Helen Backway
Our names were then added to a board and we were told it could be several hours before we were called.
Unluckily, me and my partner in crime were last on the list so the next few hours were spent in the airfield canteen, chowing down, chatting and bemoaning a lack of playing cards.
Finally at around 2pm after a lot of pacing around we got to put on our jumpsuits.
My only worry then was whether I would feel sick. But I was told my instructor, Paul, had a bag for the plane ride and if I felt sick when the parachute kicked in to raise my arm to avoid covering me and him with vomit. Nice.
The climb to around 10,000ft was painfully slow but I felt pretty calm and wasn't at all nauseous.
Then when it was time, all thoughts of what to do with my legs and my hips went out of the window (literally) as I fell out of the plane and I let out a scream.
It was like being dropped from the top of the biggest rollercoaster and I hated it.
But then I opened my eyes and we were literally on top of the world.
You could see the south coast, the airfield with the tiny looking planes, miles of fields, even a train going past. It was the most amazing feeling.
After a few seconds our parachute kicked in and Paul gave me control of the canopy, to spin us around.
But it was over too quickly. After a few minutes we drifted to the ground, Paul shouted at me to pull my legs up and we landed smoothly.
Apart from the initial scary moment of falling out of the plane I loved every minute of it and was begging to be allowed up again.
And it was undoubtedly one of the best things I've ever done.
But not forgetting the main reason for beating my fear of all rollercoaster-like experiences, which was to raise money for a fantastic cause.
I have £740.50 so far.
You can still donate online (until May) - click here
For a gallery of pictures from Helen's skydive click here
If you have done anything as exciting as leap out of a plane send us your pictures and video - you could win a £100 prize. Click here for details.
Posted by: Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott, Safely On The Ground on 5:04pm Wed 6 Feb 08
Dear Helen.
I congratulate you on your successful fundraising exploit.
I often frequent the hospice charity shops and have mentioned this before on an article concerning Specsavers and Oxfam.
I will certainly be contributing to your fund.
[bold]Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott[/bold]
PS: I have not forgotten I owe you a drink and will make it a treble.
Dear Helen.
I congratulate you on your successful fundraising exploit.
I often frequent the hospice charity shops and have mentioned this before on an article concerning Specsavers and Oxfam.
I will certainly be contributing to your fund.
Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott
PS: I have not forgotten I owe you a drink and will make it a treble.
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