Basingstoke mayor undertakes indoor skydive at iFly ahead of charity event

The mayor and mayoress were invited to take part in a test flight session at iFly Indoor Skydiving on Wednesday, August 10.

The session was in preparation of a sponsored skydive that the mayor is completing on Saturday, September 10.

During the skydive, the Cllr Miller will free fall from 15,000ft, before parachuting to the ground at Old Sarum Airfield.

The skydive will raise money for the mayor’s charity appeal.

The Mayor undertaking the indoor skydive READ MORE: Daredevil mayor to take part in skydive to raise funds for charity

Cllr Miller said: “The mayoress and I were invited to take part in a test flight session at iFLY in Basingstoke Leisure Park to help me prepare for my charity skydive on Saturday 10 September.

“After a very comprehensive briefing session, we were guided through our flight experience in the vertical tunnel. It was truly amazing, an exciting experience that we will both remember for a long time.

“As an ex-RAF pilot I am well-used to flying and have had the opportunity to take the controls of a range of aircraft but I have never actually jumped from a plane.

“Although the thought of the skydive is daunting, I really want to overcome that apprehension and raise money for two local good causes who do so much to support our communities.

“Any sponsorship, no matter how big or small, would mean the world to me and will make a real difference to my charities Tough Enough to Care and The Pink Place, incorporating The Blue Space for men.”

The Mayor and Lady Mayoress Tough Enough to Care is a mental health charity that focuses on traditionally male dominated environments such as the military, construction trades and sports clubs.

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The charity aims to remove the stigma that surrounds the subject of mental health whilst making it an everyday conversation.

Meanwhile, The Pink Place, which incorporates The Blue Space for men, provides free wellbeing services, complementary therapies and support to adults in Basingstoke and the surrounding area.

More information about the mayor’s skydive, the charities that he is supporting and how to donate, can be found on the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s website basingstoke.gov.uk/mayor-skydive.