Mother and daughter jump 13,000ft in aid of charity
A TEENAGER from New Ross has parachuted from 13,000ft to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House charity while her mother also did the jump for an organisation in Galway.
Sarah Meehan, along with her mother Mary, performed the jump at the National Parachute Club in Offaly.
Speaking to this newspaper about the fundraiser Sarah said she did it as a means of saying thanks for the hospital care her young brother, Noah, received when he became ill.
‘He was sick for 10 months up in the hospital and so I did it to say thanks,’ she said.
Sarah said Noah got sick two years ago but has been receiving regular hospital treatment since.
‘He’s six-years-of-age but has been going up regularly since he first got sick,’ said Sarah.
Sarah raised over €5,000 for her chosen charity and said completing a parachute jump is something she always wanted to do.
‘I always wanted to do one and I turned 16 in May, and when I was doing TY [ Transition Year] I knew I would have the time to fundraise,’ she said.
Sarah said some of her friends in school in St Mary’s Secondary School thought she was just talking about doing it but wouldn’t go through with it.
However, not only did she complete the jump but she loved it and such was the experience that she now plans to do another one next year.
‘It was absolutely brilliant jumping from 13,000 feet,’ she said.
‘ The parachute opened at 5,000 feet,’ she added.
This time around it was a tandem jump, however, Sarah now plans to complete a solo jump next year.
Both Sarah and Mary were very appreciative of all the support they received from the general public.
‘I would like to thank everyone who sponsored the jump,’ said Sarah.