Four Armagh friends have managed to raise a massive £10,000 for Southern Area Hospice Services after a skydive in memory of the father of one of the group.
Tim Kinnear, James Barry, Glen Faloon and Ryan Morton took part in the 10,000 ft jump on September 9 at the Skydive Ireland airfield in Garvagh.
The ‘big jump’ was staged in memory of Tim’s Father John Kinnear, bringing in a pound for every foot in the process.
Tim, who sadly lost his father to pancreatic cancer in 2017, had long been brainstorming ways to repay the Southern Area Hospice for the care and support they had provided to his family and father in the four weeks leading up to his passing.
The JustGiving page was set up to collate funds with the initial target of £2,400 now having been surpassed four times over!
The guys also volunteered to pay the fee for the skydive themselves, to ensure that every last penny went straight to the Hospice.
The cheque presentation was carried out alongside Rev Matthew Hagan, who is part of the Hospice Chaplaincy team.
This was a key personal touch for Tim, as Rev Hagan had been close to his father prior to John’s passing.
Tim, James, Glen and Ryan present the cheque to Hospice Chaplain, Rev. Matthew Hagan
Speaking to Armagh I after the cheque was presented to the Hospice, Tim said that people have been “more than generous” to the fundraiser.
“It meant the world, especially for the cause that it is,” he said. “The money raised was phenomenal, absolutely crazy. We thought if we got to £4000 we’d be doing well!”
Tim also described the skydive as a “brilliant” experience: “The boy was saying we were going in 10 seconds and he counted to three and jumped, so you weren’t really prepared!
“For the first 10 seconds I couldn’t breath and it felt like I was suffocating. Coming out of a plane at 130mph you don’t have much time to think!”
Added Tim: “I want to thank everybody who donated. Our family couldn’t have done without the Hospice. The care that they provide is crazy. If they weren’t there, you’d be stranded.”
A spokesperson for Southern Area Hospice Services added: “SAHS wish to thank the four friends so much and the guys wish to extend those thanks to all who supported their fundraising efforts.”
Read more: Four Armagh friends plan free-fall fundraiser to give back to Southern Area Hospice
