Chelsea Pensioner making 13,000ft skydive for charity

Tomorrow is the day that Chelsea Pensioner Ray Pearson will take an epic skydive to help a very worthy cause, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

As we previously reported, the 77-year-old is going to be skydiving from a height of 13,000 feet, wearing his Scarlet uniform.

Ray wanted to raise some £400 for the service charity, but it seems he's already surpassed that goal by a significant sum.

According to his ABF The Soldiers' Charity sponsorship web page, he's currently got over £570 in donations.  

Ray, who has been in the Royal Engineers, a position which saw him instructing soldiers about explosive-use and bridge building, has also worked in PR and journalism. He currently edits The Tricorne, the Royal Hospital Chelsea magazine.

The June 20th fundraising jump is happening at Wiltshire's Netheravon Airfield.

Jumping with Ray will be The Princess of Wales Regiment freefall display team, The Tigers, as well as MP Stephen Metcalf.

Ray, who has never made a parachute jump before, has said that he heard about the jump via someone at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, "and thought, why not, you only live once."

"The Soldiers’ Charity does a great job for all soldiers regardless of age so I am more than happy to jump out of a plane for them," he added.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity helps soldiers, ex-soldiers and the families of both when they need support.

It provided more than 6,000 people and more than 80 service charities with grants during the past year.

Charity chief executive, Martin Rutledge, has explained the jump in more detail.

"This certainly is not for the faint-hearted. Ray will jump from 13,000 feet, freefalling for one minute at speeds of 120 mile per hour before their instructor opens the parachute to slow their descent back down to solid ground," he said.

"This is a fantastic and brave effort and his support means The Soldiers’ Charity can continue its vital work helping soldiers in need and their families."