Grandmother to skydive from 15,000 feet to raise money for Age Concern

2017-01-08 10:00:00

Age Concern in Fuengirola and Mijas are starting their 2017 fundraising campaign with a rather unusual project later this month.
Following a festive season of charity dinners, fundraising quizzes and prize raffles, one member of the local Age Concern group has decided to do something a little less conventional.
Sally Baum, 62, came up with the highflying idea of a sponsored skydive. The daredevil grandmother will jump from 15,000 feet and free-fall at 200 kilometres per hour before deploying her parachute, so this is not a project for the feint hearted.
Sally will be doing a tandem-jump skydive at the Aeródromo La Juliana in Seville later this month, and she hopes to raise as much money as possible in sponsorship and donations for the charity.
Sally, who has lived in Fuengirola for 17 years, has two children and three grandchildren, and they all support what she is doing.
“I have always been a little bit of a tomboy, so when I suggested to my partner that this would be a good way to start 2017, he literally jumped at it,” Sally told SUR in English.
She once did a static-line parachute jump from 3,000 feet, although there was no free fall involved, so this will be even more daring for the high-spirited granny.
“This is a real challenge. I’m not nervous, just excited and it is a brilliant cause to raise money for. I really hope that people’s good wishes are transformed into donations,” Sally said enthusiastically.
Her partner Steve Marshall, secretary of the Age Concern in Fuengirola and Mijas, has also given Sally his full backing, having become accustomed to her adventurous nature: “I’m very proud of Sally and I hope people will sponsor her, because every euro, pound or dollar of their donations will make a real difference.”
The jump will take place on Sunday 22 January, subject to weather conditions, and they will be videoing it and displaying it on their website.
“Several friends will join us in Seville for the jump, but we do not know how we stand on donations or sponsors yet, but things look very encouraging,” Steve says proudly.
Those wishing to sponsor Sally’s daring jump can do so at one the branches of Age Concern, which are located in Fuengirola, Mijas Pueblo and Mijas Costa.
There is also a sponsor page on the charity’s website and a special lifeline phone number where donations and sponsors can be pledged.
Age Concern Fuengirola y Mijas are part of the Age Concern family in Spain and their objectives are to provide advice, support, help and friendship for those that need it.source surinenglish