Jumping off the edge for cancer

Lauren Payne, who took part in the event last year, raised more than $1200. Photo: Supplied.

A fundraising event will see participates free-falling out of a plane to help people suffering from cancer.

The Bay of Plenty Cancer Society Jump for Cancer fundraising event 5 will see fundraisers, who made their required target, taking part in a tandem skydive in Taupo.

Fundraisers were required to raise a minimum of $800 in exchange for a 12,000 feet tandem skydive or $1,000 in exchange for a 15,000 feet tandem skydive with one of Skydive Taupo's professional skydiving instructors.

Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society fundraising manager Catriona Findlay says they had 50 people accepted into the Jump for Cancer challenge and of that 33 have to date achieved their minimum fundraising target.

'The Jump for Cancer was something that had been successfully run overseas with a similar concept trialed in Auckland,” says Catriona 'Skydiving is on the bucket list for so many people. This is an opportunity not only to tick it off, but to really make it count.”

'For our first event we were excited by the response, however lots of people signed up, but weren't able to meet the minimum target in order to receive a free skydive.”

'We have changed our processes this year and extended our fundraising lead in time, so we have a lot more fundraisers who were clear of the challenge from the outset, and engaged and supported throughout the campaign.”

They have not yet calculated the amount raised this year, but Catriona says they are expecting the event to take their fundraising efforts to new heights with $28,000 raised last year.

The skydive itself will be in one of the world's most scenic drop zones with views of snow-capped mountains and the fresh blue waters of Lake Taupo.

Catriona says that the event is great for both adrenalin seekers and those who are scared of heights.

'Regardless of whether you jump for a friend, a family member, for cancer research or simply to help a stranger- your jump will have a positive impact on the 60 New Zealanders diagnosed with cancer every day,” she says.

The Jump for Cancer event is on Sunday, November 5, in conjunction with Skydive Taupo.

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