A Laois group has taken part in an initiative which offers people with physical disabilities the chance to skydive from 10,000 feet.
Inspired by a French Rotary club – the first group in the world to undertake the sky-dive – Portlaoise Rotary recently became the very first group in Ireland to participate in a ‘Handitandem’.
Members of the Portlaoise club made the tandem jump at Clonbullogue, County Offaly – the headquarters of the Irish Parachute Club.
The Handitandem project offers people with physical disabilities the chance to skydive in a tandem jump.
Portlaoise Rotary President Maeve Furey learned about the project on a trip to France where she was convinced of the physical and mental benefits for participants in the tendem skydive.
“Our friends in Rotary de Matha have stories of disabled people who got weeks of pain relief after jumping due to the positive adrenaline effects on them,” Ms Furey said.
Kae Delaney, originally from the US but living in Portarlington, has cerebral palsy and took part in today’s jump.
“It was amazing,” Ms Delaney said. “I never thought I would get the chance to do something like this.”
Ms Delaney was joined by the Portlaoise duo of Jordan Percy and Ellen Coughlan, both of whom are visually impaired.
The event was attended by Portlaoise Rotary President Maeve Furey and Club members Kasjana Jatkowska and Maire Dowling.
The first even Irish Handitandem was a joint operation alongside Naas Rotary, with several of the Kildare club members also taking part in the skydive.
Local photographer Renata Metelicka was on hand to capture some spectacular pictures from the event.
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