High-Flying Mayor Takes 15,000ft Leap to Help Derby Charities
By Charities Correspondent
Derby's new mayor is preparing to swap the council chamber for the skies as he takes on a 15,000ft charity skydive to support two local causes close to his heart.
The Mayor of the City of Derby, Councillor Jonathan Smale, will make the tandem jump on 21 August in aid of the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre and Living Recovery Foundation, hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the charities.
The challenge is believed to be one of the most unusual fundraising events undertaken by a Derby mayor during their year in office.
Far from feeling nervous, Councillor Smale admits he's looking forward to it.
"I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie!" he said. "I've jumped from the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. I've always said I needed to do a skydive and being mayor has given me the perfect opportunity to do it for charity.
"I wanted to raise money that stays in Derby and helps local people."
One of the charities set to benefit is the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre, which has been giving children free holidays in Skegness since 1891.
Every year, hundreds of youngsters from Derby and Derbyshire – many of whom have never seen the sea before – enjoy a much-needed break thanks to the charity and its volunteers.
Councillor Smale said the charity's impact is something he has seen first-hand.
"They've supported children in my own ward of Spondon, which is one of the reasons I chose them," he said.
"I know people who went on those holidays as children and still remember the experience today. For many, it gave them memories and opportunities they would never otherwise have had."
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His second chosen charity, Living Recovery Foundation, supports people in Derby recovering from addiction and helps those who may otherwise have struggled to access support.
On the day of the skydive, the mayor will travel to Langar Airfield wearing his official mayoral chains before removing them ahead of the jump.
Once safely back on the ground, he'll proudly put them back on.
The fundraising challenge has already almost reached its original £1,000 target, with the mayor now hoping to raise £2,000 or more to split between the two charities.
"If I could raise £2,000 and share it between the charities, that would be incredible," he said.
Janine Holmes, Chief Executive of the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre, said:
"We're delighted the Mayor of Derby has chosen to support us alongside Living Recovery Foundation. Volunteering to do a skydive is an amazing gesture and we hope people will get behind him and donate. Every pound raised will help put smiles on the faces of children enjoying a holiday with us."
People wishing to support the mayor's fundraising challenge can donate via his JustGiving page.
