Bosses dropped for charity

Senior YMCA South Australia managers Andrew Mundy, Craig Hortin and Haydn Bellamy took the ultimate leap of faith out of a perfectly good aircraft and parachuted to the ground in the name of charity on Sunday, 7 November.

The three daredevils participated in the ‘Drop Your Boss’ event, collectively raising $3,000 for St John’s Youth Services which works with young people in the Adelaide metropolitan area aged from 16 to 25, who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Sky dive was held in good weather conditions from a height of 9,000 feet (2,750m) at South Australia Skydiving’s Langhorne Creek airbase, with the freefall lasting 25 adrenalin-rushing seconds before floating down with some assistance from the parachute.

The idea to take the dive came from Whyalla Recreation Centre Operations Director, Kristen Beaty, who posted on the staff Facebook site calling for interest from managers. The gallant trio took the challenge on and set about raising the required funds through colleagues, friends and family.

Andrew, Haydn and Craig took the plunge for a likeminded organisation who aim to make a difference in the lives of young people.

All three participants were first-time jumpers and Haydn provided the following details of the experience:

We all had family and friends watching and the anticipation built as our expert instructors and ground school provided the safety briefings. We were taking off and heading into the unknown and there was no turning back

We were strapped onto our instructors and had 100% faith in their abilities and the safety equipment. Craig was first, Andrew second and me third out. After we were above the cloud base, it was time to go – there was no real time to think, we all scooted to the open door, dangled on the edge of the plane and waited for the ready ‘Go’.

The freefall was amazing, flying through the cold clouds at 220kmh, somersaulting through the air, a pure adrenaline rush and feeling of freedom. Our instructor gave us the control loops, pull slightly left, go left, pull slightly right, go right. I was told to pull sharp right down to his legs which sent us into a freefall corkscrew……unexpected and exhilarating!

Being able to see Lake Alexandrina, the airbase and the mouth of the Murray River along with family and friends below was extraordinary.

Craig landed first, I was second and Andrew came in safely third - landing on our backsides and immediately seeing the relief on our families’ faces. The sense of relief and exhilaration was immense and made you want to go up and do it again.

Our thanks go to those who supported and donated to this great cause.