- A British woman celebrates her birthday in a different way
- A British woman raises more than $13,000 for charity with her jump
- Even Prince William congratulated the elderly lady
A British woman celebrates her birthday in a different way
British citizen Manette Baillie extraordinarily celebrated her 102nd birthday - by skydiving.
The elderly woman jumped out of an airplane with a parachute at an altitude of 2 km. Even though she was a little scared and "closed her eyes a lot" when she jumped, she felt great after landing[1].
The oldest person to skydive is Rut Linnea Ingegard Larsson, a Swedish woman who made a tandem parachute jump on 29 May 2022 at the age of 103 years and 259 days. This feat earned her a Guinness World Record.
Baillie's jump was to encourage other seniors to stay active.
"I'm so happy to be fit and healthy that I have to do something about it," she said. - I just want people to keep going when they are approaching 80 or 90."
Baillie got the idea to go skydiving when she heard that the 85-year-old father of an acquaintance had also gone skydiving.
"If an 85-year-old can do it, so can I," she said to herself.
This is not Baillie's first impressive birthday feat. On her 100th birthday, she drove a Ferrari at 210 km/h around the Silverstone circuit in Formula 1.
A British woman raises more than $13,000 for charity with her jump
Ms Baillie, a former World War II cadet who served in the Royal Women's Naval Service, also made her birthday jump for a noble cause.
The jump raised over $13 000 for her favourite charities across the UK.
"I'm doing this for charity. The first charity is our local club, Benhall and Sternfield Ex-Servicemen's Club. It's the center of our village and the only club where the community can come together. It is an old club founded at the end of the First World War for all ex-servicemen. The second charity is the Motor Neurone Disease Association because I had a great-grandmother who was suffering from motor neurone disease and needed funding for research. The other charity is the East Anglian Air Ambulance. I've always been very supportive of them," says Baillie.
Indeed, the Air Ambulance once saved her son's life on the Isle of Wight after a diving accident in 1969. That's when she started supporting her local East Anglian air ambulance charity. Other charitable initiatives in her life go back many years. She hosts a coffee morning every Saturday in her home, where everyone donates money.
However, Ms Baillie says this jump will likely be her last fundraising challenge.
"Now I'll just start knitting," she laughs[2].
Even Prince William congratulated the elderly lady
A large crowd of friends, family, and curious onlookers watched Baillie parachute out of an airplane at Benhall Green airfield. In addition to her initiative to contribute to charity, the senior citizen also broke a British record. The title of the country's oldest skydiver was previously held by Devon resident Verdun Hayes, who turned 101 years and 38 days old on the day of the jump in May 2017.
And Baillie's determination has not gone unnoticed, even by the British monarchs. Even Prince William and his family sent their best wishes.
"Catherine and I hear you will celebrate your 102nd birthday next week with a parachute jump! Knowing that you celebrated your 100th birthday by racing a Ferrari at Silverstone, we're not surprised," Prince William's message read.
Although Baillie herself is delighted by the attention, she says she could not have lived so long without the support, love and care of her family. At the same time, she says that her longevity is due to her curiosity, activity and love of entertainment.
"Keep busy, be interested, be kind to others, and let them be kind to you. And don't forget to have fun", she advised.
