Three Parksville octogenarians took a big leap over the weekend and ticked skydiving off their bucket lists, while they raised thousands of dollars for a worthy cause.
Berwick Parksville residents Colleen Bonner, Ruth Goertzen and Ken Greenwell enjoyed a huge thrill when they jumped on July 29, landing safely at Arbutus Meadows.
B次元官网网址淚 think it met my expectations and more. Going against the unknown is a little scary,B次元官网网址� said Greenwell, 82. B次元官网网址淣ow IB次元官网网址檝e been there, done that.B次元官网网址�
Berwick Parksville Retirement Community residents and staff raised more than $4,000 for the Oceanside Hospice Society, which added up to approximately $10,000 combined, part of a larger effort that also involved groups like the Qualicum Beach Seniors Activity Centre.
The first 30 seconds of free fall (going 200 km/h) was exhilarating B次元官网网址渁nd cold B次元官网网址� and the wind is just whipping your face back,B次元官网网址� said Bonner, who turns 83 this year.
Once the parachute opens up, they were able to steer using toggles.
B次元官网网址淎nd if you hang on to it a little longer you start to spiral,B次元官网网址� said Goertzen, 84. B次元官网网址淭hat was the most fun.B次元官网网址�
This was GoertzenB次元官网网址檚 second skydiving jump and sheB次元官网网址檇 happily try it again.
The group was glad they jumped tandem with an instructor.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e in his hands. Thank goodness youB次元官网网址檙e strapped to him,B次元官网网址� said Greenwell. B次元官网网址淥nce we got underway I felt confident. I didnB次元官网网址檛 even see the canopy, I didnB次元官网网址檛 see the colour of my canopy until we landed.B次元官网网址�
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Two staff members joined in on the adventure, including office manager Jennifer Keats.
B次元官网网址淚t was so great to see all of our residents out there and everybody came to watch,B次元官网网址� said Keats, who added that although it was terrifying, she would still try it again. B次元官网网址淚 screamed the entire way down.B次元官网网址�
The idea originally came from the Qualicum Beach Seniors Activity Centre and last year a resident from Berwick Qualicum Beach joined in the fun.
That generated a lot of excitement and Berwick Parksville was pleasantly surprised when not just one, but three residents volunteered to jump, according to Corinna Ludovici, community relations manager.
They were part of a group of 29 jumpers from the Parksville Qualicum Beach area and many people from the Berwick community were on hand to cheer them on and watch them land.
Before retirement, Bonner was a registered nurse, while Goertzen was a stay-at-home mom and also helped her husband with his contractor business. Greenwell was with the RCMP for 30 years, mostly in Alberta.
