Going to great heights

Bay of Plenty people are being asked to face their fear by jumping out of a plane from 12,000ft in the annual Drop For Youth campaign.

The act which involves individuals ticking off a bucket-list goal while raising funds for local teenagers is one of the biggest annual fundraisers for the Graeme Dingle Foundation.

Those already signed up range from business owners and corporates, sports people to a mother-daughter team. “Many are jumping out of a plane for the first time,” says Charlotte Brown, who is GDF business development manager.

“I did it last year, so I absolutely understand it’s daunting to freefall for 45 seconds but it’s really beautiful flying over the bay with Skydive Tauranga.”

People can sign up to the campaign now, with skydiving to happen September-October and donations being collected to December 31. Charlotte is hoping for at least 80 participants. “The reason we chose skydiving is significant,” says Charlotte.

“Our courses in schools teach resilience and that what you have inside is greater than any obstacle you may face. “That’s a big message so skydiving brings that to life. It reminds adults what it’s like to feel nervous, to face a challenge and to then overcome it.”

Donations have already topped $10,000 but the Foundation welcomes more people sign up to make it the most successful campaign ever. “Last year we raised more than $30,000 for our youth programmes,” says Charlotte.

“But more than 90 per cent of the money we need annually for our programmes is from fundraising, so we really need community support to reach as many young people as possible.”

Programmes via GDF range from school-based values teaching of Kiwi Can, to peer mentoring programme Stars and ready to work programme Career Navigator and Project K.

Recent Posts