  THE SKYDIVER & THE ORPHAN TEDDY BEAR
By Jeanne Hambleton
This is the story of a very nervous teddy bear called Steiff, a small squashy cuddly orphaned bear called Groupie, and a fibromyalgic skydiver. Jon Bowles (46) a lorry driver from Emsworth. Jon who suffers with fibromyalgia, was determined to raise funds for his local Support Group for Surrey & Sussex and agreed to do his first charity tandem skydive for sponsorship with a teddy bear.
Steiff, a teddy bear owned by one of the members, was anxious to have his moment in the spotlight and volunteered to hitch a ride for the tandem skydive, hoping to boost sponsorship.
Jon had been given the all clear by his doctor and Steiff was a fit young bear. After 10 months preparation the skydive was planned for 12 August.
The big day arrived last weekend but bad weather prevented the planned skydive with the Army Parachute Association at Netheravon, near Andover. Steiff was already worried about the flight and feeling really nervous. For Steiff this was a lucky escape.
The jump was re-booked for last Saturday (19 Aug) and on that morning Steiff was decidedly off colour and not ready to fly. Without the flick of an eye, Groupie, the fibromyalgia mascot, a small honey coloured orphan teddy bear, was ready for his moment of fame with helmet and goggles in place.
After an hour of training when Jon and Groupie learned how to skydive and what to do on landing, they were ready for take-off with Senior Army Parachute Association Instructor Phil Elson, pulling the strings and taking charge.
With the fantastic experience over all too quickly after the flight Jon said, “I'm still a bit stiff around my neck and right shoulder but it’s worth it. WOW what an experience.”
Groupie was feeling a bit wind swept, but he puffed himself up with pride and shed a tear of relief that the excitement and the flight was all over. The squashy little cuddly bear had done his bit for his Group. He had been where Steiff had feared to go and what memories he would have to tell his grand-teddies.
Chairman of the Fibromyalgia Support Group Surrey & Sussex, Josephine Fisher, said, “I am immensely proud of Jon and Groupie, our little mascot. For Jon, who suffers with fibromyalgia to undertake this tandem skydive, was a personal triumph over his condition. The trustees all feel they have both done a wonderful job and we are so glad that Groupie got to fly. He has been mumbling about it for weeks. I am sure Steiff will find another way of raising sponsorship. He just has a nervous disposition.”
It all began last October when the Group started searching for a volunteer to do the skydive. Josephine Fisher, founder of the Group and mother of five, had been persuaded to volunteer against her better judgement when Jon stepped in said he would do the jump for her.
Since then many of the Group’s 400 members have been canvassing friends and family to raise sponsorship for the Group’s charity and Jon, a driver, has left sponsorship forms with every delivery.
Another fibromite Denise McSpadden and her husband Rick, both skydivers, who organised the charity tandem, have friends in Belfast collecting sponsorship. While Rick, who is the Welfare Officer for a number of Fijians at the Marchwood Sea-Mounting Centre (17 Port & Maritime Regt. RLC) has found the lads emptying their pockets to support the sponsorship and are determined to fill all the spaces on the sponsor form.
Denise McSpadden said, “I'm so humbled by the Fijians as they don't have a lot of money to spare but they have been emptying their pockets for us. I asked Rick to pass on my sincere gratitude. Some of them were putting in their last few pennies, determined to help.”
The Fibromyalgia Support Group receives no government funding and relies on donations. For more information about fibromyalgia or to make a donation to Jon and Groupie’s tandem skydive, telephone Jo Fisher on 01403 255450 or email her.
Jon Bowles, the fibromyalgic tandem skydiver with Groupie, mascot to the Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey & Surrey, prepare for their first charity tandem skydive.
Anyone wishing to pay in sponsorship money or make a donation can do so through their bank, to:
Account Name 'Fibromyalgia South Skydive'
Sort Code 402433
Account Number 61599135
Send counterfoil to Norman Lawrence
33 Penlands Vale
Steyning
West Sussex
BN14 3PL
The Skydive has raised £1200 for Group funds.
Thank You to everyone who supported it!!
From CFSupport, The Northern Virginia CFS/ME & FMS Support Group
Sky dive benefits FM support group!
I was tickled to know about this. I wrote my encouragement to Jon and the support group. What fun - what a leap! It is great to read how support groups can help people through the tough spots, and to see this level of creativity and commitment as way to say thanks! - Elly
This was because Portsmouth.co.uk published this article.
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Buy-at the FMS SAS on-line shop.