On 30th August 2024, thrill-seeker and proud fundraiser David Connelly took to the skies for a tandem skydive, despite being blind. He was raising money in memory of his beloved mum, who died at East Lancashire Hospice ten years ago.

David’s mum died in the hospice Inpatient Unit in 2015. He and his brother Taylor spent time by her side during her final days, describing the hospice as “a peaceful place that gave our family comfort.”

For David, this skydive had been a long time coming. He said:

“It was a dream of mine I’ve been thinking about for years.

“Losing my mum made me want to give something back to the hospice. The care she received meant everything to us.”

After months of planning and assessments with his support worker, David finally got the green light to skydive. Social services had concerns, but he was determined. He said:

“I didn’t want anyone to stop me. I was willing to take the risks.”

Soaring at 15,000 feet, David was the second blind person ever to skydive with the Black Knights Parachute Centre. His instructor, Paul, kept him informed throughout the process, describing every step, from boarding the plane to the moment the door opened and the countdown began.

David recalled:

“I could hear the other jumpers being called forward, the planes landing and taking off, it built the excitement.

“I felt my legs hanging out of the plane, then we were falling! The freefall was the best part, I felt so free.”

He remembers the moment the parachute opened and recalls hearing cheers from family and friends as he glided to the ground. Around 30 people had come to support him, including his nephews and his brother Taylor, who travelled down from Scotland and took part in the jump too.

The skydive was not just an adrenaline rush, it was also deeply emotional.

“I was thinking about Ma the whole way. She wouldn’t even let me go on escalators when I was young, she’d have panicked if she was watching.

“Doing this for the hospice meant something to me; it made it extra special.”

Despite being blind, David is no stranger to daring adventures. He’s tackled zip lines and the Gravity Swing at the Eden Project and is a big fan of rollercoasters at Alton Towers. He proudly admits:

“I’m an adrenaline junkie, I could’ve done it again that same day!”

David raised £400 through the skydive and is incredibly thankful for the support from his community!

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