Michelle takes giant leap for the record
ADRENALINE junkie Michelle Meakins will be taking the biggest leap of her life so far... to skydive over California and help break a world record!
But the 33-year-old from Thorne is no stranger to the dizzy heights of jumping out of planes thousands of feet in the air after 13 years of practice and over 1,300 leaps completed.
She has jumped all over Europe and America and for her next charity challenge, called Jump for the Cause, Michelle is just one out of the 175 women taking part around the globe to attempt a world record formation skydive and raise cash for breast cancer.
Fearless Michelle said: "I will be one of just 30 British women selected for this event so it is a great honour for me and a massive achievement. I am so proud to be a part of it."
Northampton-born Michelle first began skydiving in 1995 when she joined a parachute club at the University of Central Lancashire when she studied media technology. After that first jump, she was hooked and trained to become a solo skydiver.
During her degree Michelle raised as much money as she could to keep her craving going and it soon became a way of life.
"I think it was a break from the norm, to do something that I knew nothing about and go for the challenge," she said. "My family thought I must be nuts, but supported me and realised it is not as death-defying a sport as it is perceived to be, in fact it's as safe as you make it.
"They're very proud of what I have achieved over the years and how much dedication I have given to my hobby.
"My boyfriend Keith Jones is in awe of what I do, it scares him a little but he knows I'm safe. He realises it is something I've had to work for a long time to achieve and have put an awful lot of effort into, he supports me 100 per cent... but he does tell me he's slightly jealous!”
The extreme sports enthusiast is not one to keep her feet firmly on the ground as she also likes mountaineering, trekking, climbing and snowboarding!
Some of her ultimate goals to complete in her lifetime include climbing the 14,000ft high Swiss Alps’ Matterhorn and being part of the world skydiving team next year to jump in Thailand.
The Network Rail IT analyst currently juggles her job in Manchester with training at the gym, running with Doncaster Athletics Club, and also continues to skydive from centres across the country.
She believes her mental fitness as well as her physical fitness will need to be at its best to complete the Californian challenge.
“Skydiving and climbing require a lot of mental concentration and you need to be switched on to perform,” said the gold and silver skydiving medallist.
Michelle, who lives in Dunstan Walk with Keith and their dog Betty, currently holds three British women’s records in the 50 way (meaning how many who took part and joined in a formation), 60 way and 68 way women’s catergories.
She is also part of an all-women’s skydiving group call Brit Chicks whose jumps have raised over 40,000 for the British Red Cross.
Jump for the Cause will take place from September 21-27 at California’s Perris Valley Skydiving Centre where the group hopes to break the current 2006 record of 151 women taking part in an air formation.
Michelle added: “For me personally this is just one of many things I aspire to achieve in the coming years. I hope people will support my journey.”
To help Michelle raise money, visit:
http://jftc.jumpforthecause.com/profiles/Meakie/ or www.firstgiving.com/michellemeakins
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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