- From 13,000 Feet...!
Just over a year after her younger brother Ollie was killed in an accident; Charlotte Bridewell fulfilled her pledge of earlier in the year by taking part in a charity skydive in aid of Cancer Research.
One of Britain's most promising and popular motorcycle racers, Ollie died during practice for the British Superbike Championship on July 20th 2007 at Mallory Park and at his funeral, over £6000 was collected for his favourite charity to which he had a monthly standing order.
Members of the Red Devils Parachute Display Team, themselves regular race-goers who often give displays at race meetings, offered 24-year-old Charlotte the opportunity of a tandem skydive and she immediately accepted so today, at the team's base at Netheravon near Salisbury, she made the jump from 13,000 feet.
After free-falling for a couple of minutes, Charlotte, from Etchilhampton, near Devizes safely completed the jump with team member Dan Schmidt and afterwards revealed her apprehension:
"I really was scared and the nearer the time came, the worse it got but now I've done it, I have to say it was a wonderful experience! It's not every day you get a good looking man strapped to your back and Dan really did look after me and I'm so grateful. On the way down I could see Thruxton circuit and also Mum and Dad's house and the garage which was weird but I'm really glad I did it and I know Ollie would have been proud of me!" said Charlotte.
So far, just over £6,000 has been raised or pledged for Charlotte's jump and following the completion, it is hoped that even more money will be raised:
"We'd really like to hit our target of £10,000 so hopefully, we can get a few more local businesses and individuals, as well as anyone else to help us achieve our goal" concluded Charlotte.
Anyone wanting to pledge support for Charlotte can do so by either making a deposit in the following account:
Branch: Lloyds Devizes, SN10Sort Code: 30-92-63Account No: 03338968Name: Devizes Area Committee of Cancer Research UKOr by sending a cheque payable to 'Devizes Area Committee of Cancer Research UK' to the following address: Wayside Garage, Etchilhampton, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 3JT.
