This weekend, I was invited to take part in an exciting adventure thanks to the charity, Bright Red...

What Inspired This Ultimate Adventure?

Two months ago, a beautiful family friend lost her life to a blood-related condition, just weeks before she could celebrate her 60th birthday with her loving family. So when my wild-woman compadre, Maggie Martin, invited me to take her place and sky dive for Bright Red two weeks earlier, it was an easy hell yes.

The Skydiving Experience

The Build-up

That feeling as we climbed high in a small 8-seater plane, I’ll never forget. I was attached to my instructor and my lifeline Ant Andrew’s and in that moment, he was the most important person in my world. Pounding headache, nausea, bellyache - all signs that adrenaline was pumping through my veins and my heart was pounding in my chest.

Straddling a small bench, I felt Ant clip us together, completing the final safety checks and reassuring me that I was in safe hands, giving me my final instructions.

Only 15 minutes earlier, I had video messaged my 3 girls to tell them I loved them, (and that my will was updated) - just in case.

I woke that morning with a mix of excitement, foreboding, and absolute gratitude for my lovely life, my health, and my happiness. These feelings intensified by the thought that I was about to do something that could risk it all.

Then imagining what it must feel like for the brave humans who are navigating a life threatening condition, in need of support from Bright Red reset the balance.

The Fall

Then came the 9,000 ft free fall, plummeting for 50 seconds at speeds between 110 - 130 mph. Above the clouds, I could even see the curvature of the earth as we fell. The exhilaration was overwhelming, and everything felt so calm, floating above the world.

When the chute was pulled, the pace slowed to a gentle 40 mph for about five minutes. We soared through clouds and into the most beautiful rainbow ring, something I had never seen before. The only danger now? Colliding with another parachutist below.

As we neared the ground, and the small world of tiny cars, houses and people, I wanted the moments in the air to last and to stay in the air as I pulled my legs up into a seated position so the instructor could safely land us.

It was a mix of joy to be back on solid ground, paired with a sense of disappointment that the experience was over.

Reflections on Courage and Life

Feeling alive, glad to be alive, and grateful to have had the courage to take the leap, I knew I had experienced 10 minutes that might flash before my eyes one day, and that would be worth watching over and over

If, like me, you would like to help Bright Red Charity, click here.