Vicar in 15,000ft leap of faith for Christian Aid
Churchgoers across the South West will be raising funds for Christian Aid Week (May 12-18) in all kinds of ways – but none will go to the same heights as the Revd Mike Haslam.
Father-of-four Mike, Chaplain at Taunton Academy, suffers from vertigo but plans to jump out of a plane on Saturday 18 May in his first-ever tandem skydive to raise money for the international aid organisation.
Mike, 41, is no stranger to Christian Aid events having run, climbed (and crawled) up the 15 3,000ft mountains of Snowdonia for the charity in 2009 and 2011, but he admits this challenge is testing his nerve.
He said: “I am scared of heights so this is a big challenge for me personally!
“I love a new challenge though and it is a great opportunity to do something exciting for a good cause which echoes my Christian values and belief that we should help those in poverty and ensure that they have a life before death.
“I’ve nearly reached my £1,000 target but hopefully I will raise a lot more - I know it will make a real difference to lives.”
Christian Aid regional coordinator for Somerset, Gillian Alexander, said: “We are thrilled that Mike is facing his fear and supporting us in this way.
“Christian Aid Week’s theme this year is ‘Bite back at Hunger’ which ties in with the multi-agency campaign Enough Food for Everyone IF which will be putting pressure on world leaders as they meet in the UK next month to bring about fundamental changes to start putting an end to hunger.
“Hunger is the world’s biggest health risk. It kills more people every year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. In developing countries, a third of all child deaths are linked to hunger.
“The money raised in Christian Aid Week will help poor communities around the world grow more food by adapting to climate change and securing land rights, so they can meet their immediate food needs. By taking part in Christian Aid Week people here can help others lift themselves out of poverty so that they thrive, not just survive.”
Last year Christian Aid Week raised £12.5 million pounds with a remarkable two-thirds coming from house-to-house collections. Primetime TV adverts promoting the week will run from Thursday 9 May dramatizing a Christian Aid funded project in Sierra Leone where solar freezers are used to help fishermen store fish.
Weather permitting, Mike will make his jump at Dunkswell Airfield in Devon. For more information or to donate visit www.justgiving.com/Mike-Haslam
To find out more about Christian Aid Week or to donate visit www.caweek.org.
