Ian Williams is a young multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferer who is taking on the challenge of a lifetime by completing a 10,000 ft ‘freefall’ tandem parachute jump in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.
Ian, 33, has been living with MS for 7 years and is a wheelchair user but on Saturday 12th August 2006 he plans to skydive from an aircraft at nearly 2 miles above the Earth, at almost 120mph.
"I have never done anything like this before or even thought about it" said Ian. "It’s an immense challenge for me personally and physically but I am determined to succeed. The MS Society has helped me so much in coming to terms with my condition and it’s about time I gave something back."
Since 2004, Ian has not been able to work as a result of his health and at first found it very difficult to adapt to the new lifestyle. "For a family with 2 young children, the impact was massive," Ian explained. "Not just financially but emotionally as well, there were times when I felt I had no future at all and nothing to look forward to."
Then, in the summer of last year Ian discovered that the local branch of the MS Society had just launched a weekly ‘drop-in’ centre, at a local church hall in Pontypool, which was only 2 miles from his house. "I was really surprised when the flyer came through the door, I had not heard of anything like this before that was specifically targeted at MS," explained Ian. "I had very little to do with the MS Society prior to this, but thought it was an excellent idea and I was extremely keen to go along."
The Cwmbran and District branch MS ‘drop-in’ centre was like a breath of fresh air for Ian and changed the direction of his life for ever. "This was the first time I’d had a chance to talk with other MS sufferers and it was liberating for me," said Ian. "The ‘drop-in’ has such a relaxed atmosphere, it made me feel welcome right from the start and as a result I have made so many new friends."
The ‘drop-in’ centre provides a vital service within the local MS community and has regular visits from MS specialist nurses, physiotherapists and other community groups designed to help disabled people.
The idea of a parachute jump came after Ian was involved in the MS Society ‘Cake Break’ day, a nationwide event that raised over £80,000 for the charity. "The centre did its own event and we raised over £2,000, this got me thinking of other ways to fundraise" Ian explained. "I wanted a real personal challenge to try and raise as much money as possible for a cause that means a great deal to me."
The jump will take place on August 12th 2006 at Redlands Farm, Lower Wanborough near Swindon.
You can sponsor Ian by visiting his online fundraising page on www.justgiving.com/irwilliams|. You can pay by credit or debit card, and the money will go directly to The Multiple Sclerosis Society. Where supporters are UK taxpayers, the charity will automatically receive 28% extra in Gift Aid, which makes Justgiving the most efficient way of sponsoring Ian.
For further information on the MSS ‘drop-in’ centre please contact Sally Bailey on 01633 875273.
For further information on the Multiple Sclerosis Society contact info@mssociety.org.uk| or call 020 8438 0700.