Melton teenagers complete solo charity parachute jumps
Three Melton teenagers have raised more than £1,000 for charity by bravely performing their first ever solo parachute jumps.
Twin sisters Jessica and Olivia Brown and Samuel Page, who are all 19 and members of 1279 (Melton Mowbray) Squadron Air Training Cadets, took on their challenge after only seven hours training.
They all did static line jumps, where they remained attached to the aircraft via a cord which automatically opened the parachute after they had jumped out.
Despite the safety measures in place, Jessica said the nerves were still jangling with no experienced person to cling to as novices normally do with tandem jumps.
She told the Melton Times: “The plane ride up was really nerve-wracking, particularly as I had to watch the others jump out first.
“I felt so nervous when I was going up to the open door but when I jumped out the view was absolutely amazing - it was so much fun.”
In fact, the trio enjoyed it so much they went back to do two more solo jumps the following day.
“Doing the second one, I felt more nervous than the first one because I had slept on it,” added Jessica, who is interested in a career as an RAF dog handler.
“I was a lot more relaxed for the third one. It was an absolutely incredible experience to do it - I can’t find the words to describe it.”
The trio, who are all former pupils of Melton’s John Ferneley College, raised money for two different causes.
Jessica, who lives at Hoby, has raised around £450 for the Melton branch of the Royal Air Force Association while Olivia and Samuel have generated nearly £900 for the Flying Scholarships for Disabled People charity.
Go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JessicaBrown49 or https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=Flying-Scholarships-For-Disabled-People&isTeam=true to sponsor them.