I can't quite believe I'm doing this...

jpns-02-03-17-023 hav COL skydive Debbie Mcilroy

Debbie Mcilroy from Hayling Island, who will be skydiving 15,000ft for Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation
CAPTION: Debbie Mcilroy will be skydiving 15,000ft for charity — jpns-02-03-17-023 hav COL skydive Debbie Mcilroy Debbie Mcilroy from Hayling Island, who will be skydiving 15,000ft for Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation CAPTION: Debbie Mcilroy will be skydiving 15,000ft for charity

However, in all of my wisdom, I have decided to volunteer to jump out an aeroplane from 15,000 feet in a skydive challenge for local charity, Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF), which also has its national headquarters on Hayling Island, where I am living.

It all seemed such a great idea when I heard about it at the Christmas lunch for Hayling Island networking group ‘Ladies who Latte’.

Actually it’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to the exhilarating jump.

This will be the third year DRWF has organised the tandem skydive, with some fundraisers returning each year, raising over £11,000 from the three previous skydives.

Jumpers are tasked with raising £350 if they are jumping from 10,000 feet and £396 if they choose to jump from 15,000 feet. They just pay a £50 deposit to GoSkydive and then fundraise the rest for DRWF to take part.

This year the skydive takes place on Sunday, May 21, over at the GoSkydive in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

However, this is not the only leap that I have made recently.

After 18 years in the prison service, I decided that it was time to change up my life a bit, and so put my 25 years of experience in renovation and DIY to good use.

So, in August 2016, I set up my own business; DNM Gardening & Home Services.

It offers a wide range of services to homeowners, including painting and decorating, cleaning and re-sealing patios and drives, general gardening, flat pack assembly, ceramic tiling, and any odd jobs and other general home maintenance.

I am is looking to expand my customer base on the island – I thoroughly enjoy meeting other Hayling based business women at the Ladies networking group which meets once a month at the Newtown House Hotel.

Networking group Ladies who Latte has been a wonderful way to meet many of the other small businesses on the Island and pick up lots of hints and tips to help me in my business and to promote my services.

Meeting Claire from DRWF has resulted in an unexpected challenge and a totally new experience I am really looking forward to.

The Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation is a registered charity, established in 1998 to raise public awareness to Type One and Type Two diabetes.

To donate please visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Debbie-Mcilroy1.