Nervous Deborah has long for charity

Nervous Deborah has long for charity

6 July 2016

A DOWNPATRICK teenager has raised almost £1,100 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association after taking part in a thrilling parachute jump.

Deborah Fitzsimons took part in the hair raising event in memory of her aunt Brenda Bogues who died from the disease last August, although the teenager admitted she was terrified before jumping. 

But with her first jump now under her belt, Deborah admits she would do it again in a heartbeat as 

she found the whole experience “exhilarating and amazing.”

The daredevil teenager took part in the charity jump in May on what was her 18th birthday with the assistance of the Coleraine-based Wild Geese parachute team.

A 40-minute training session was all Deborah had to prepare for her jump from 10,000 feet and as the light aircraft climbed above the clouds the butterflies in her tummy were travelling at speed.

“I was really nervous,” recalled Deborah who is hoping to study Travel and Tourism at the Ulster University in Coleraine this September.

“I was really glad it wasn’t raining and when we reached our disembarking point all I could see below me was white bubbles of cloud. I was terrified about jumping even though I was strapped to my instructor, but the person who was behind me gave me that final push and I was away.

“Within 40 seconds I had reached 6,000 feet and was travelling at 120mph. I was really apprehensive about the whole thing but the experience was amazing. I would to it again in a heartbeat even though it was terrifying.”

Describing her experience as “brilliant,” Deborah said she is indebted to her family, friends and people who live at the various housing developments along the Saul Road in Downpatrick who helped her raise so much money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

“Everyone who supported my fundraising venture was so generous and so kind. I cannot thank them enough for all their support. The money is going to a very worthy cause and 

an organisation which is close to my family,” she continued.

Deborah added: “I would recommend a parachute jump to anyone; it is the experience of a lifetime. This is something everyone needs to do. The Wild Geese team was absolutely amazing and what an experience they gave me.”