10 October 2008

One of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's firefighters will be doing a leap of faith on Sunday for charity.

Crew Manager Paul Roberts, Blue Watch Amersham, will do a freefall parachute jump to raise money for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Association.

Paul, 30, joined Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service eight years ago and has always been based at Amersham. He is a helicopter pilot and has a close affiliation with the air ambulance.

He said: "In 2006 they were called to a helicopter crash in which I was injured. As firefighters we have all seen the air ambulance attend many incidents to airlift seriously injured casualties to specialist hospitals for life saving treatment."

Although he is used to flying a helicopter, Paul is not used to jumping out of them.

"I've never done a parachute jump before and I'm excited but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared! But is it a very worthwhile cause and I would appreciate any support people can give me."

If you would like to sponsor Paul, please email the station at ame-blu@bucksfire.gov.uk giving your name, address and amount pledged.

The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Association is entirely charity funded and without the work of many volunteers who raise money it would cease to operate.

Paul's charity parachute jump takes place at Weston on the Green, near Bicester, on Sunday.