Nurse’s leap of faith
AN East Cheshire nurse is preparing to tackle her ultimate challenge from 14,000 feet in one of the world’s most beautiful tourist locations.
Margaret Black, 54, is facing her skydive adventure on Friday (March 31) over the crystal clear waters and sparkling white sands of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in a bid to raise money for East Cheshire Hospice.
“I’m very excited about the jump despite the fact I don’t like heights,” said Margaret.
“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and this will certainly push me to the limits.
“And it’s all for a great cause – East Cheshire Hospice is an amazing place that provides wonderful care and support to people living and coping with all life limiting illnesses,” she added.
Margaret, who is a staff nurse at the hospice, admits she will have some fears in the plane and is glad that she will be in the company of her 27-yearold son, Robert, and son-in-law, David Furness, who are also taking the jump.
Margaret will jump in tandem with a qualified instructor and will freefall for 30 seconds before the parachute opens allowing her another five or six minutes to float under the canopy and enjoy the views. The family decided to do the jump, in what is described as ‘Australia’s most beautiful drop zone’, while on holiday in the country to mark the start of her husband’s retirement.
“Our plan was to visit Brisbane where my son has been living for the past two years but we decided to turn the holiday into an adventure and make the journey up to Airlie Beach in Queensland for the skydive as well,” said Margaret.
The trio are hoping to raise £2,000 for the hospice via their fundraising site - find it at https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/ mkblack.