A Douglas pensioner has raised £1,424 for charity by tackling a daring skydive at Redlands Airfield in Swindon.
Ros Mills, a 73-year-old who has lived on the island for 35 years took to the skies to take on a parachute jump for local charities and loved every second of it.
Ros said: ‘I’ve always wanted to do it, so last winter I said to myself if I don’t do it now I never will.’
Ros raised the money for children’s hospice Rebecca House and Cancer Research, two charities which are close to her heart.
‘My son’s friend had a little girl who died in the hospice and I have known friends and relatives who I’ve lost to cancer and who’ve recovered from it,’ said Ros. ‘I lost my husband to it 20 years ago, I did the jump on his birthday, so it was a special day.’
Asked how it felt to take the leap Ros said: ‘I was looking forward to it, then when I got up there I thought my God what am I doing, it’s 10,000 feet up here!
‘But then the instructor jumped so I went with him and it was absolutely wonderful, I’d definitely do it again.’
Ros has a son and daughter and said her son wasn’t that keen on her doing the jump at first but supported her on the day.
Asked if she had any more adventurous plans Ros said: ‘Nothing like this, I’ll still be doing some things for charity though.’
Mary Doyle of the Hospice fundraising team thanked Ros for taking part in what she described as such an amazing feat of bravery and for raising funds for Hospice.
‘I have seen the CD of Ros doing the jump and believe me she smiled the whole way through,’ said Mary.
‘We are really touched by her support and ‘can do’ attitude, well done to her.’
So if you thought knitting and bingo were the height of excitement when you reached your 70s perhaps you could take a leaf out of Ros’ book and take to the skies.
For information on the skydiving contact SkydiveLondon via info@skydivelondon.co.uk
For charity details, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org and www.hospice.org.im/rebecca-house