Brave Dawn takes big 13,000ft leap of faith

Dawn Devine fulfilled her ambition to skydive in spite of suffering from fibromyalgia.

This is a chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and disorder whose cause is unknown.

Its symptoms feature pain similar to being run over by a truck and fatigue that makes a person unable to lift their limbs or sleep well. Despite this, and not liking flying, a Tarzan-style assault course led Norfolk Way resident Dawn to want to experience the thrill of a skydive to raise money for research into the condition and raise awareness of it.

She described the occasion as the most exhilarating event of her life in spite of the fact it hurt and she found it difficult.

Her friend, Jude Williams, of Ancton Way, Elmer Sands, decided to join her for the good cause. They have raised at least 1,605 between them.

On the day, 40-somethings Dawn and Jude were strapped very tightly to an instructor. "It's all very close and personal," Dawn said.

They flew to 13,000 feet from the Army Parachute Association base in Wiltshire, sat at the door of the plane with their feet hanging out and just fell out, face first. The first 45 seconds after that saw them in freefall, reaching speeds of up to 150mph.

The speed dropped dramatically once the parachute had opened and they drifted slowly to the ground up to five minutes later.

Dawn said the weather was perfect and the view when she fell through the clouds had been absolutely stunning.

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