Weston Hospicecare is inviting supporters to take to the skies in support of an exhilarating new challenge for 2019 – the charity’s first ever wing-walk.
The hospice offers a range of thrilling challenge opportunities for fundraisers to test themselves or tick items off their bucket list, but this is the first time it has been able to run a wing-walking day.
The event will take place at Rendcomb Airfield in Gloucester on June 21 next year, and see participants take to the air atop an Aerosuperbatics biplane for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, flying at up to 140mph and 1,000ft in the air.
Aerosuperbatics will be familiar to many people in Weston, as its wing-walking tandem display team features annually at the town’s air festival.
The firm is considered to be the world’s most established and experienced wing-walking team, and has a 100 per cent safety record in its 30-year history.
Weston Hospicecare’s challenge manager Simon Angear said: “We are always on the lookout for new challenges to set for our supporters, who are an intrepid bunch and are always looking for unusual ways to support us, and we wanted to find something really special for our 30th anniversary year in 2019.
“This is a fabulous opportunity to get involved in something really exciting and extraordinary. It promises to be a day to remember for everyone who takes part – and of course, they will all know they are contributing to the vital work of the hospice by getting involved.”
Wing-walkers will enjoy a one-to-one with the expert pilot who will be taking them into the air, during which they can choose which manoeuvres they are brave enough to take on.
They will then enjoy an exhilarating series of flypasts, zoom climbs, steep dives and banks while their friends and family cheer them on from below.
Would-be wing-walkers can secure a place by paying a £150 registration fee, and will then be asked to raise a minimum sponsorship total of £500 for the hospice.
Although organisers are keen to open the experience to as many people as possible, there are some restrictions to who can take part.
For safety reasons, the experience is limited to people of a maximum height of 6ft 1in and weight of 13.5 stone. Participants must be over 18 too, while over-65s will be asked to provide either a doctor’s note or a self-declaration to confirm they are fit and able to complete the challenge.
Simon added: “This could be an item on your bucket list, a challenge to set yourself, or even an unusual Christmas present for someone else.
“Whatever your reason for taking part though, doing so will help to support the hospice’s work caring for people in and around Weston-super-Mare with life-limiting illnesses, and our gratitude goes to everyone who chooses to get involved.”
You can find out more, and download a registration form, by clicking here. Completed forms – or any questions or queries – should then be emailed to simon.angear@westonhospicecare.org.uk