Atherstone firefighter Chelsie Griffin takes another 'leap of faith' for charity

JUST BACK FROM RUNNING EQUIVALENT OF A MARATHON EVERY SIX DAYS, TOWN'S INTREPID FUNDRAISER NOW PLANS A SKYDIVE FROM 13,000 FEET

AND TO MAKE IT MORE OF A REAL CHALLENGE, TERRIFIED KEY WORKER ADMITS TO 'REAL FEAR OF FALLING'

THREE thrill-seeking Atherstone coronavirus key workers are preparing to take the plunge to raise funds for a children's charity.

The trio – on-call firefighter Chelsie Griffin, her friend Racemeadow Primary Academy teacher Holly Clark, and Holly's dad Les, who works for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council – are taking on a tandem parachute jump in the autumn.

It will be the first time any of the intrepid trio has skydived.

They will head to Hinton Skydiving Centre in Northamptonshire on September 5 to jump out of a plane at 13,000 feet – strapped to the front of an instructor.

"We will cover around 1,000 feet every five seconds, travelling at 120 mph," explained Chelsie who has spent the whole of July taking part in running the equivalent of five marathons in the sponsored 5,000km Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service challenge to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity.

"The parachute is deployed at 5,000 feet and we will land around four minutes' later.

"Quite frankly I'm terrified, as I have a fear of falling. So it will really be a personal challenge.

"But I have a friend who has an adopted child with a life-limiting illness who had a fantastic experience thanks to Wishes 4 Kids so there will be no chickening out," added Chelsie, who works as a client services manager for an insurance company.

The charity jump was Les's idea to celebrate his 60th birthday and a must-do on his personal bucket list.

"A parachute jump has been on that list for the last 10 years so I wanted to tick it off while I'm still fit and able," explained Les, who lives in Atherstone and through work has been helping coordinate and distribute food parcels during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I chose Wishes 4 Kids to benefit because it's a wonderful charity granting 'wishes' for children with life-limiting and terminal illnesses or who have been abused or suffered severe mental, physical or emotional trauma."

Daughter Holly, whose firefighter boyfriend works with Chelsie, added: "I'm more excited than nervous at the moment, but I suspect those emotions will be reversed on the day of the jump."

The trio has set a £700 fundraising target, which has already topped £400, and are hoping the Atherstone community will get behind their charity challenge

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