Daredevil dad's charity skydive

Daredevil dad Andrew Daniels braved a 15,000ft skydive to raise thousands of pounds to help fund research into a devastating muscle-wasting condition that affects his foster son.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Apr 2016, 13:14 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:03 BST
Daredevil dad Andrew Daniels skydiving to raise cash for Muscular Dystrophy SUS-160330-115631001Daredevil dad Andrew Daniels skydiving to raise cash for Muscular Dystrophy SUS-160330-115631001
Daredevil dad Andrew Daniels skydiving to raise cash for Muscular Dystrophy SUS-160330-115631001

Andrew, who lives in St Leonards On Sea, joined daredevils across the country for a 15,000ft sponsored skydive on Good Friday (March 25). He took the Make Today Count challenge with friend Charlotte Dengate at Skydive Headcorn, Ashford, raising a whopping £3,627 to for Muscular Dystrophy’s Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund, helping scientists find treatments for the condition that affects 2,500 people in the UK.

Andrew’s foster son, Matt, 25, has life-limiting Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscles weaken and waste over time, leading to increasing and severe disability. Andrew, who has cared for Matt for the last fourteen years, says it is a cruel condition. “Up until this century Matt had a life-expectancy of 18 years,” he said. “New therapies are helping to extend life; there is currently no cure but Matt is now 25! The money raised will benefit boys just like Matt in the future.”

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Matt says the tandem skydive was a thrilling experience that he thoroughly enjoyed. “Although for anybody who was a little nervous it could have been terrifying!”, he said. “The only part I did not like was being dangled out of the door of the aircraft. Once out it was amazing. The actual jump occurred at 17.00 and at 19.30 I was the soloist in a performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion! I had to grin when the chorus sang “he has come from above in his power and love”.” To sponsor Andrew. Visit https://www.justgiving.com/Andrew-Daniels1/