Morecambe woman with fear of heights sets sights on charity skydive for North West Air Ambulance

Sarah Strachan is aiming to jump out of a plane in April to raise money for the vital service that relies totally on charitable donations and is a lifeline to rural communities.
Sarah Strachan.Sarah Strachan.
Sarah Strachan.

Sarah, who said she wouldn't even dare to stand on the glass floor at Blackpool Tower, aims to face her fears and complete the skydive on April 18 - Covid restrictions permitting.

Sarah works for Lancaster based animal nutrition company New Breed UK and said she frequently saw the air ambulance land at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary which got her thinking who funds the service.

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She said: "During the lockdown, like many I've had a lot of time to think about what really matters in life and I decided that I could do more to help so supporting a service that is vital to the farming community was a natural choice.

Sarah is raising money for the North West Air Ambulance charity.Sarah is raising money for the North West Air Ambulance charity.
Sarah is raising money for the North West Air Ambulance charity.

When I looked into it I was very surprised to find out that this vital service is entirely funded by charitable donations and, given the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, they are still providing their vital service although their funding is around £70,000 a month lower because of the cancellation of charitable events.

"They are not part of the NHS and they are not government funded, I was gobsmacked to say the least.

I had to act, the company I work for supplies animal feed to farms throughout Cumbria, Lancashire and SW Scotland farms and I know from regularly talking to farmers that the Air Ambulance is a service vital to rural and farming communities and has saved many lives of the people thy know and love."

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Sarah has now signed up to the North West Air Ambulance skydive on Sunday April 18 (Covid restrictions permitting), with the Black Knights Skydive Team.

She has already raised more than £900 of the £2,000 target, and hopes to hit the mark before the day in April.

She added: "I'm not a fan of flying really, whenever we've gone on holiday abroad I been nervous of flying getting out of the car in the car park and digging my fingernails into the seat rests as we take off!

"I feel nervous but excited about the prospect of getting into the plane because I'm okay in the air it's the takeoff that bothers me but I'm downright terrified of jumping out!

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"As for heights I felt dizzy looking out of the window of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and won't even dare to stand on the glass floor at the Blackpool Tower.

"I know I can do this, I'm prepared to face my fears for a fantastic cause, I may even enjoy it!"

You can sponsor Sarah HERE.