‘SKY’S THE LIMIT’ AS DEBBIE DIGS DEEP FOR LOCAL DIABETES CHARITY SKYDIVE FROM 15,000 FEET

Hayling Island resident Debbie McILroy normally has her feet firmly on the ground but she has just volunteered to jump out an aeroplane from 15,000 feet in a skydive challenge for local charity, Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF), which also has its national headquarters on the island.

Debbie said: “It all seemed such a great idea when I heard about it at the Christmas lunch for Hayling Island networking group ‘Ladies who Latte’. Actually it’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to the exhilarating jump.”

This will be the third year DRWF has organised the tandem skydive, with some fundraisers returning each year, raising over £11,000 from the three previous skydives.

DRWF CEO Sarah Tutton said “We provide information and support to help people to self-manage their condition, including our ever populate annual Diabetes Wellness Day on July 22^nd at The Solent Hotel, Whiteley. The charity is also instrumental in diabetes research funding in the UK and around the world in order to better understand the causes, prevention, treatment and management, but ultimately we want to find a cure.”

“DRWF is delighted Debbie has chosen to fundraise for us, the whole experience at GoSkydive is so professional and all the jumpers receive comprehensive training on the day and are in the very safe hands of the tandem instructors,” explained the charity’s community fundraiser Claire Levy.

Debbie has a JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Debbie-Mcilroy1. Jumpers are tasked with raising £350 if they are jumping from 10,000 feet and £396 if they choose to jump from 15,000 feet. They just pay a £50 deposit to GoSkydive and then fundraise the rest for DRWF to take part. This year the skydive takes place on Sunday 21st May at GoSkydive in Salisbury.

Debbie made another leap recently when she decided to leave the prison service after 18 years and put her 25 years of experience in renovation and DIY to good use. So in August 2016 she set up her own business; DNM Gardening & Home Services. Debbie offers a wide range of services to homeowners including painting and decorating, cleaning and re sealing patios and drives, general gardening, flat pack assembly, Ceramic tiling, and any odd jobs and other general home maintenance. She is looking to expand her customer base on the island and really enjoys meeting other Hayling based business women at the Ladies networking group which meets once a month at the Newtown House Hotel. http://bit.ly/DNMGardening

“Networking group Ladies who Latte has been a wonderful way to meet many of the other small businesses on the Island and pick up lots of hints and tips to help me in my business and to promote my services.” She added. “Meeting Claire from DRWF has resulted in an unexpected challenge and a totally new experience I am really looking forward to. The Sky’s the limit!”

If anyone is interested in the charity skydive on 21st May please get in touch with Claire Levy community fundraiser at DRWF on 02392 636138 or email fundraising@drwf.org.uk.