‘ONE small leap for Carolyn,


one giant leap for St Luke’s Hospice!’ by John Hutchins


— that was the thought of a Times advertising representative when she leapt out of a plane from Dunkerswell Airfield, near Honiton, on Sunday.


Carolyn Rickards, 64, who bravely conquered her fears to parachute from 15.000ft, did the jump in memory of her friend and colleague Sue Pennington (Penny), who died from cancer earlier this year and received such support and care from St Luke’s Hospice.


It was a once-in-a-life- time experience for Carolyn whose efforts have helped raise more than £1,500 for the hospice. To add to Carolyn’s nerves her jump had been postponed


twice, owing to weather conditions so she was relieved to have finally taken the sponsored leap.


She undertook her tandem skydive strapped to an experi- enced parachutist called Andy.


Carolyn said: “When I was ready to bale out of the plane it was terrifying; it was minus 10 degrees centigrade but once we started to fall I began to enjoy it. We freefalled about two miles at about 120mph in just 60 seconds. It took my breath away. It was quite a jolt when the parachute opened and you feel quite a wrench from


the pull but then we just started to float and coast down. The views were terrific and the scenery was so lovely on such a beautiful day, you could see for miles - Andy said you can even see Wales. You have to land on your backside but thankfully everything went smoothly.”


Penny was very much in Carolyn’s thoughts at that moment. “She would have thought I was totally mad but it wouldn’t have sur- prised her! I’m sure she would have been so pleased that the money raised in her name is going to St Luke’s Hospice whose


staff were so kind to her and her family at the end of her life. “


Carolyn especially thanked her


daughter Elouise for driving her to Dunkerswell, her grand-daughters Natalia and Alicia, and to Bernie, Penny’s husband, for all their support. “I also want to say


a big thank you to all the people who sponsored me in memory of Penny.”


Any outstanding sponsorship monies for Carolyn’s leap can be sent to the Tavistock or Okehampton Times’ offices or taken into the reception areas.


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