The Mayor of the City of Derby, Cllr Jonathan Smale, is set to jump 15,000 feet out of a plane on August 21 in a daring tandem skydive to raise funds for two local charities. The event, taking place at Langar Airfield, will support the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre and the Living Recovery Foundation.
A Mayor with a Taste for Adrenaline
Cllr Smale, who admits to being an “adrenaline junkie,” has previously jumped from the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. He sees this challenge as the perfect opportunity to combine his love for thrills with his civic duties. “I’ve always said I need to do a sky dive and I think the best way to do that is for charity - and me being mayor has given me the perfect opportunity,” he said.
The skydive is an unusual undertaking for a Derby mayor, but Smale is determined to make a significant impact. He has already nearly doubled his original £1,000 fundraising target and is now aiming for £2,000, which would be split equally between the two charities.
Supporting Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre
The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, based in Skegness, has been providing free holidays for children since 1891. This year, hundreds of children from Derby and Derbyshire are benefiting from the centre’s services, many of whom have never seen the sea before. Children are nominated through their schools if they would otherwise miss out on a holiday due to financial difficulties or other circumstances, such as caring for relatives.
The mayor chose the holiday centre because of its long-standing support for families in his own ward of Spondon. “They have supported children in my own ward of Spondon - that was specifically why I chose them,” he explained. “There are people that I know in Spondon who have experienced going on a holiday at the centre - and that hasn’t been forgotten.”
Smale highlighted the transformative impact of the centre, noting that some adults who attended as children have gone on to lead successful lives. “I know a few adults too who have been through the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre who have used that experience to be successful in life,” he said. “That work is still being continued with young children today.”
Living Recovery Foundation: Helping Those Who Fall Through the Net
The mayor is also keen to raise money for the Living Recovery Foundation, which supports people in Derby who may have “fallen through the net.” Both charities provide significant benefits to local residents, which is why Smale chose them as his official charities for his mayoral year.
“I wanted money to be raised that will go to Derby residents,” he said. “The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre is 135 years old which is quite an astounding achievement.”
The Skydive Day: Chains of Office and a Tandem Jump
On the day of the skydive, the mayor will travel to Langar Airfield wearing his official chains of office. The chains will be removed as he prepares to ascend in the plane, and he will don them again upon landing. This symbolic gesture underscores the civic nature of his fundraising effort.
The mayor’s enthusiasm is matched by the charities’ gratitude. Janine Holmes, CEO of the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, said: “We are so delighted that The Mayor of the City of Derby has chosen to benefit our charity as well as Living Recovery Foundation. To volunteer to do a sky dive is an amazing gesture and I hope plenty of people get behind him and donate - everything you give will go towards putting smiles on the faces of children who come to enjoy a holiday with us.”
How to Donate
Those wishing to support the mayor’s skydive can donate via his JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cllrjsmale1. The mayor hopes to raise as much as possible, with a goal of £2,000 to be split between the two charities.
The skydive is scheduled for August 21, and the mayor is encouraging residents of Derby and beyond to back his effort. With his adrenaline-fueled determination and the support of the community, he aims to make a lasting difference for local children and those in recovery.
