During 2020, when the country went into lockdown, David decided to hold a series of online performances to raise money for Trinity in an effort to stave off boredom.

With an ambitious target of raising £10,000 over two years, David entertained friends, family and colleagues by playing the trumpet, singing and dancing in costume.
After just 15 months (and a terrifying jump from a plane), David was just £1,000 short of his goal. This is his story.

At the start of lockdown, I think everyone was getting a bit bored, so early on I put a post on my Facebook page asking friends for suggestions of local deserving charities which I could support.

At the same time, Trinity put out an emergency appeal for help. My gran had been cared for at the hospice, and I think there are a lot of us living on the Fylde coast who, at some time or another, have had a relative that needs their care.

I knew Trinity was going to need all the support it could get, so I decided to dedicate my efforts to them.

I set out to raise £10,000 over two years. Lots of people said I had overstretched myself, but I just wanted to raise as much as I could. Now I just want to prove people wrong.

It was something to just focus my mind during lockdown, and it was just something I looked forward to. My events took place on a weekend, so I’d be looking forward to them all week, buying costumes and planning, instead of going to the pub or going out for a meal.

A colleague told me at work one morning that she’d signed us up for a skydive. I told her no chance. Absolutely never was I going to jump out of a plane! She told me it wasn’t for ages yet, and that seemed to put me at ease.

But jump day got closer and closer, and last week was just a nightmare. I couldn’t concentrate at work; I was so nervous. But people had sponsored me, and I knew I couldn’t let them down.

On the day of the jump, I was shaking. I was sweating! I’d made a Will the night before!!

The second I tumbled out of that plane, all my nerves went. It was surreal. It was beautiful.

One minute I was falling at 120mph – the next I was floating. I could see the Lakes. I could see the sea. I saw Blackpool Tower.

It was the best experience I have ever had in my entire life.

I honestly didn’t realise how hard fundraising was. To start with all I could do was ask the same people – my friends, family and colleagues – to make a donation. But then I started sharing to different groups on social media, and my circle widened.

There are some really generous people about, and I can’t thank them enough for all the support they have given me over the last 15 months. And although £10,000 is a lot of money, it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what it takes to keep Trinity going. I’m just pleased I’ve been able to do my bit.

Watch David’s jump below

 

Fancy following in David’s footsteps?

Click here to find out more about this year’s Big Jump skydive