Friends’ skydive raises more than £10,000 for Cancer Relief

Steph Le Tissier and friend Aimee Browning were raising money in memory of Mrs Le Tissier’s husband John who lost his life to cancer last year, aged 58.

For Miss Browning this was a particularly terrifying experience as she is scared of flying.

‘I felt good until I actually got into the plane, when all the nerves kicked in,’ she said.

‘However, it was the most amazing experience of my life. I felt all the emotions from being absolutely terrified, then relief, and just happy. I was so overwhelmed it brought me to tears.’

The pair were in freefall for 30 seconds, falling 5,000 feet at 120mph, before gently floating down the rest of the way once the chutes opened.

Mrs Le Tissier said she was anxious to complete the jump as it had already been cancelled once due to Covid but was not frightened about the skydive.

‘I didn’t want any further delays, given that people had donated and I was nervous for Aimee,’ she said.

‘But what’s more exhilarating than being thrown out of a plane? The jump was amazing and I was buzzing for a day or so afterwards. I felt so free when whizzing down during the freefall and the tranquillity of coming down when the chute opened was out of this world.’

The pair jumped with skydive Jersey, landing at L’Eree on the fields used for the West Show.

The friends had almost perfect conditions for the jump, and Mrs Le Tissier said she had tried to spot her house on the way down.

‘My friends had laid some towels down in the back garden in the form of a cross, but I didn’t spot it.

‘But seeing Guernsey from a different perspective was breathtaking. As I came into land, I could see and hear those that came to watch, shout, cheer and clap which I found emotional. It was a beautiful day.’

Mrs Le Tissier said she had been overwhelmed by the response to her fundraising, which has raised more than £10,000.

‘I was hoping we could possibly raise a few thousand pounds at least, but there were people who did not know John, myself or even our family donating to my Just Giving page, some of whom are not even from Guernsey, which was utterly amazing. It just shows how much love and kindness there is in this world. I’m truly humbled by it all.’

And Mrs Tissier said this may not be her last fundraising effort.

‘One thing I will be looking to do is wing walking. I want to do something which is outside of the box. I started off with the idea of walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats, not realising how far it was. That’s what happens when you live on the island, your sense of distance disappears.’

n To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stephanie-le-tissier2