Our 15th Skydiver this year!

Liz Salmon decided she wanted to give something back in memory of her Aunt and thanks to our earlier jumpers in Summer from Reaseheath College and Synectics-Solutions, she became our 15th Skydiver of 2025. Here is her story…..

 

“On the 1st October 2024 my lovely Auntie Caroline took the tragic decision to end her own life. She had suffered from anxiety and depression for most of her adult life and despite professional support and the love and support of her family and friends, she sadly felt too overwhelmed by life. 

 

I decided early in 2025 that I wanted to do something to raise money in her memory. After discussions with my mum, we decided that North Staffs Mind would be a fitting charity as my auntie has supported Mind financially for a number of years. Having completed an ultramarathon a couple of years previously I had no desire to repeat that but I wanted something equally challenging so people would willingly support me. I was struggling to think of what to do. And then I thought of a tandem skydive! 

 

Now a tandem skydive was never on my bucket list! To be honest it’s something I’ve always said I could never do as I’d be too scared! But the idea grew in my mind and I decided to go for it! 

 

So I contacted North Staffs Mind and was put in touch with Steve who was brilliant in organising everything for me! He even met me at Tilstock Skydiving Club on the morning of my skydive on the 26th September and our chat whilst waiting to jump really helped to reassure me. 

 

In the months leading up to my skydive I’m not afraid to admit that I was genuinely scared. In fact I almost cancelled it. But my fundraising was going well and I don’t like giving up on things! 

 

In the end I’m delighted to say that I absolutely loved it! It was nowhere near as scary as I had imagined. I felt very confident in the training I had before the skydive as well as in my instructor who made the skydive so much fun! I paid extra myself to have a video made and I’m so glad I did as I love watching it back! 

 

I would highly recommend doing a tandem skydive to anyone who is interested in raising money for North Staffs Mind! I had such a great experience, have fabulous memories and most importantly £1230 was raised for North Staffs Mind in memory of my lovely Auntie Caroline. I know she would have been very proud of me!”