A SKYDIVING grandad from Yaxley has helped a charity effort that raised thousands of pounds for Age UK Peterborough.
Brian Jennings (83), who lives in the Snow Hills sheltered accommodation in Blenheim Way, Yaxley, was one of a team of six daredevils who lept from a light aircraft 13,000 feet above Sibson Airfield, near Peterborough.
Brian, a father-of-three and grandfather-of-six, raised £500 out of a grand total of £3,900 collected by the team.
The fund-raising event was organised by owner of Peterborough-based Safe Local Trades, Eileen Le Voi.
Brian said: “It all went very well. This was my second skydive. The first was about three years ago after my wife died to thank the nurses who cared for her.
“This time I thought I’d do it to raise money for Age UK, which is a very good cause.
“A lot of people ask me about it now, and I just say age doesn’t come into it. After you do it you feel you have achieved something.
“I was well supported by everybody and that pleased me. I tried to talk some people into doing it, but nobody seems keen!
“I don’t have any other skydives planned at the moment, but you never know what the future holds.”
Eileen said: “I am so incredibly proud of Brian. He is inspirational and epitomises that you are never too old to do anything.
“Brian was so brave and we were blessed with a cloudless, warm day on October 2, which made everyone’s experience even more enjoyable.
“It is a privilege to raise funds for Age UK – funds which help them to continue to deliver vital services to older people across Greater Peterborough.”
“We would like to thank all our skydivers and runners for taking part in helping to raise £3,900 for this very worthy cause and to everyone who supported us by donating to our teams.”
Chief executive of Age UK Peterborough, David Bache, said “We are absolutely delighted with this money and can’t thank Eileen and all the team enough.
“Without compassionate companies, such as Safe Local Trades, we simply wouldn’t be able to provide the level of service that older people in Peterborough need so badly.”
Safe Local Trades offer a directory of tried and trusted tradesmen who operate in Peterborough and the surrounding area. For more information about the company you can visit its website at www.safelocaltrades.com, call 0800 0141832 or email customerservice@safelocaltrades.com.
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