Man to skydive on his 75th birthday for charity

Geoffrey Gaylor, from Great Barford, Bedfordshire, is taking on the aerial challenge this April to raise funds for Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, where he has volunteered since 2019. The retired BT worker will be accompanied by his son Rob and daughter Caroline for the tandem skydive at Sibson Aerodrome, Peterborough, on April 18. The group will soar to 13,000 feet before plummeting at a speed of 120mph.

Despite not being "typically adventurous," Geoff said: "About a year ago, my daughter did a skydive with a friend, and when I saw the photos and video, I thought, ‘That looks like fun and totally different!’ So here we are!" Mr Gaylor's 70th birthday celebration was cancelled due to the first lockdown, prompting him to seek something special for his 75th. Geoff presenting a cheque to Regional Head of Hospice Fundraising, Tori Ablard (Image: Geoffrey Gaylor) His fundraising target was initially set at £250, but has already reached £315. As a trustee for a local benevolent fund, Mr Gaylor was led to volunteer at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, which provides palliative care and bereavement support near Moggerhanger.



His roles have included tin collecting, marshalling at the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike, and helping with the annual Treecycling campaign. Mr Gaylor said: "I find volunteering really rewarding. "I’ve always had a great time helping out, whether it’s tin collecting, marshalling, or treecycling.

"It’s good fun and gets me out and about while supporting a fantastic cause." READ MORE: Buckets of rubbish removed from local waterways With his skydive just days away, Mr Gaylor remains enthusiastic. He said: "I am looking forward to it.

"I suspect, when the day comes, there might be a bit of nervousness. "It doesn’t seem like the most natural thing to be doing, but I’m sure it’ll be an amazing experience." To donate to Geoff’s skydiving challenge, visit his JustGiving page.

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