On Sunday 21 July, Citywide Paraplanner, Matt Burt, took to the skies to make the two-mile jump from the air safely to the ground at the Skydiving Centre in Old Sarum, Salisbury. After several delayed attempts due to weather conditions, Matt finally made the jump at 7pm on a long-awaited clear summer’s evening.

Matt said, “I’ve always wanted to do a skydive – it’s very much been on my bucket list. And then I realised how brilliant it would be to do it for charity. One particular charity, which is very close to mine and my family’s hearts, is St Catherine’s Hospice, and so it seemed very fitting to jump in aid of the charity which supported me and my family through my Dad’s final weeks.”

St Catherine’s Hospice provides both physical and emotional support to people in West Sussex and East Surrey living with a life-limiting or terminal condition, and their families. The hospice cares for people at home, in their wellbeing centre and on their wards, and also offers bereavement and carer support to families of those affected.

Referring to the jump itself, Matt said, “I was really nervous beforehand but seeing other people successfully jump before me helped to put my nerves at ease. It ended up being a very pleasant day with clear skies by the time I came to jump. As the plane ascended, I could see across to Wales, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Old Sarum and Salisbury. The views were incredible, which helped to distract from the very long drop below!

When I first jumped, there was a minute of free falling where I reached a speed of 125mph; one of the most exhilarating experiences and certainly an experience of a lifetime. The parachute was then pulled out and I had a further five minutes in the sky with the most breathtaking views. It really makes you realise how amazing our Earth is, seeing everything from a different perspective.”

Matt had a fundraising target of £150 but has managed to raise an incredible £1,215 for St Catherine’s Hospice. The Hospice said, “Our care is only possible thanks to the generosity of our local community who fundraise for and donate to us. Matt has raised an incredible amount which will really make a huge difference to other families, and we are so grateful for his support. He should be very proud.”

And it’s not too late to sponsor Matt! You can give his fundraising a boost by visiting his JustGiving page.

You can also read more about St. Catherine’s Hospice and the work they do.