The Kerryman (North Kerry)

Daredevils to take a leap of faith to help out Recovery Haven

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CLOSE to 90 brave volunteers will be taking a leap of faith for cancer support charity Recovery Haven Kerry over the next two weekends as they take to the skies for a fundraisin­g parachute jump.

The charity has been completely overwhelme­d by the outpouring of support for their inaugural skydive event, which was initially supposed to take place on leap year day, February 29, but was extended to three days due to phenomenal demand.

A total of 87 people from across Kerry and further afield have signed up to take part in the skydive extravagan­za at the Irish Parachute Club in Edenderry over three days – this Saturday and Sunday, February29 and March 1st, and the following Saturday, March 7.

PR and Marketing officer with Recovery Haven, Marisa Reidy said the initial idea was to seek volunteers for a ‘Leap for Recovery’ on February 29 to tie in with the leap year – but when three times more people asked to sign up as could be catered for, it was decided to accommodat­e everyone.

“We’re celebratin­g our 10th anniversar­y in 2020, which is a leap year, so we decided to organise a skydive on that day. The Irish Parachute Club can accommodat­e 30 people each day so we were hoping we could get enough to fill that day. Little did we realise that we would be inundated with requests and end fill three full days.”

Marisa said those taking part are doing so for a number of personal reasons, from simply ticking a skydive off their bucket list, to giving something back for the support their families or friends received from Recovery Haven, to doing it in memory of someone they have lost.

“It is shaping up to be our biggest ever fund-raiser and we cannot thank everyone enough for signing up, as well as their sponsors and supporters for their overwhelmi­ng generosity,” said Marisa.

 ?? Photo by Joe Hanley ?? Some of the 87 volunteers set to do a skydive in aid of Recovery Haven. Pictured are Nora Nagle, Jack Clapham, Marie O’Sullivan, Stephanie Horan, Lauren Fitzell, Paddy Kavane, Pat Clapham, John Parker, Michelle Ward, Noreen O’Neill, Josephine Sheehan, Tom Broderick and Jacinta Bradley of Recovery Haven.
Photo by Joe Hanley Some of the 87 volunteers set to do a skydive in aid of Recovery Haven. Pictured are Nora Nagle, Jack Clapham, Marie O’Sullivan, Stephanie Horan, Lauren Fitzell, Paddy Kavane, Pat Clapham, John Parker, Michelle Ward, Noreen O’Neill, Josephine Sheehan, Tom Broderick and Jacinta Bradley of Recovery Haven.

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