Heroic HPP charity skydivers re-live their epic adventure

One of the most intense and exhilarating experiences of a lifetime – that’s how skydivers from Hill’s Panel Products (HPP) described their sponsored parachute jump for charity.

Joint founder and owner Martin Hill was joined by two directors at the Oldham firm – Dan Mounsey, Marketing and Business Development, and Andy Evans, IT – for the tandem skydive in aid of Maggie’s cancer centre in Oldham.

The trio took to the skies from the Black Knights Skydiving Centre at Cockerham, south of Lancaster, which offers the highest skydive in the UK – 15,000ft, which is almost three miles high, instead of the more common 11,000ft.

The adventure came about following HPP’s fundraising for Maggie’s as part of World Cancer Day earlier this year, which raised £350.

The centre in Oldham is part of a UK-wide and overseas network of cancer support hubs, giving cancer patients, their families and friends practical, emotional and social support.

Donations for the skydive currently total £2,215, 98% of the latest target of £2,250, which has had to be adjusted three times after previous targets of £1,200, £1,500 and £2,000 have all be surpassed.

While Martin, a qualified pilot, and Dan took a relaxed approach to the adventure, Andy admitted to having a ‘touch of trepidation’ as he first jumped out of the plane.

He said: “The guys on the ground really give you confidence and put you at ease but when you first leave the plane, you certainly have a moment.

"I think it was the expanse of the view in front of you and the fact there’s nothing between you and the ground – it’s really intense.

“I thought it would be like that all the way down, but the feeling soon disappears, and you start to enjoy the free fall.

"You don’t worry about it either, I think your brain isn’t capable of worry at that point - you’re tightly strapped to your instructor as well.

"And then as soon as the canopy opens it becomes a very serene experience.”

Martin added: “A love of aviation runs through our family, so doing a parachute jump seemed like a natural extension of that passion.

"From the first moment we heard about the charity parachute jump while we were visiting Maggie’s to hand over the cheque for World Cancer Day, I couldn’t wait to do it.”

Dan, meanwhile, describes the skydive as the most ‘commercially available adrenaline rush’ you can do.

He said: “I’ve done a bungee jump before but that was over a lot quicker than this.

"It’s genuinely exhilarating for a lot longer as you free fall.

"Your senses are all over the place for the first five or 10 seconds, you’re falling at about 120 to 140 miles an hour,

"it was minus 10, so your head is freezing.

“We all expected more of a jolt as the canopy opened but it was quite smooth, and as Andy says, it becomes very serene.

"You can see Blackpool to the south and the Lakes to the north and the instructor spins you round so you get a 360-degree view.”

Conditions on the day were so perfect that the trio found themselves in the air less than an hour after arriving at the skydiving centre and following a safety induction.

Maggie’s Centres give information about how to manage when someone or someone they care about has cancer.

Practical advice is available about such things money worries, nutrition, exercise, wills and legacies, while emotional support includes dealing with a diagnosis, handling treatment, and dealing with stress.

Social support connects patients, friends and family with others in a similar situation, while carers young and old can seek help too.

HPP, which has been operating in Oldham for 33 years, manufactures and supplies board, doors, fittings and accessories for the fitted furniture industry, particularly kitchens and bedrooms.

It also has a trade counter in Sheffield.

There’s still time to sponsor Martin, Dan and Andy - visit their fundraising page here

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