A GROUP of intrepid locals will leap from a plane later this month in memory of a Tameside man who died recently of cancer.
Steve Drinkwater originated the idea but passed away on August 21.
By then Mike Quinn had taken over organising the event for Steve, a regular at the Beau Geste pub in Ashton.
So, on September 17, Mike, a 62-year-old lift engineer from Dukinfield, and five others will complete a freefall tandem parachute jump from 15,000 feet.
Mike’s son, Joshua, plus pub landlord and landlady, Paul Owen and Yvonne Thorley, will also take part at the Black Knights skydiving centre near Lancaster. They will be joined by Alisia Ahmed and Sam Pratt.
“Steve had the idea to do a sponsored parachute jump for Macmillan and I put my name down,” said Mike.
“But it never really progressed so I said I would sort it out and raise money instead for the Anthony Seddon Fund.
“I had posters made but sadly Steve died and never got to see them. I did a couple of parachute jumps when I was a lot younger and lighter,” he laughed.
“But I have never done a freefall tandem jump. Everyone is enthusiastic though and hopefully we can raise a couple of thousand pounds for the Fund.”
• To donate visit https://justgiving.com/fundraising/bk-skydiving