11:40am Monday 22nd March 2010
By James Connell
A DAREDEVIL student with a fear of heights completed a charity skydive to help fund a dedicated breast care unit in Worcester.
David Antell, president of Worcester Students’ Union, honoured his election pledge to complete the skydive in aid of the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign despite his vertigo.
The 22-year-old University of Worcester geography graduate, of St John’s, Worcester, developed an intense fear of heights after his last skydive six years ago but conquered his nerves to leap out of a plane from 13,000 feet over Chatteris Airfield in Cambridgeshire.
He did the tandem skydive on Wednesday in support of the campaign, now the university’s chosen charity, which has also been adopted by your Worcester News.
Mr Antell, originally from Dorset, who had an aunt with breast cancer, had a nervous wait for the clouds to clear before he completed the jump.
He said: “I did a skydive six years ago but it was horrifying.
“Afterwards I promised myself I would never do it again but I put it on my manifesto for the student union elections.
“I have got a fear of heights and the last skydive really freaked me out.
“It was out of this world. It was crazy.
“I really wanted to get it over and done with. I wouldn’t do it again. It’s the last time. I have always wanted to raise money to help people with cancer. Everybody knows somebody with cancer.”
Mr Antell has already raised £500 but would appreciate more help from readers who can now sponsor him online by visiting justgiving.
com/DavidAntell.
Charity leaders need to raise £2.5 million to convert an existing building at 220 Newtown Road at Worcestershire Royal Hospital into a dedicated breast care unit.
The new unit will mean patients – both women and men – can get their checks at a one-stop shop rather than having to attend various clinics spread out throughout the main hospital building, sometimes across several floors.
The new unit, served by its own car park, would also be more comfortable and less clinical in design, making the patient experience more relaxed, pleasant and private.
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