Westmeath trio skydiving to aid relief for fleeing Ukrainians

Three local men will take part in a skydive on Sunday, April 10 in an effort to raise funds for Ukraine.

Dan Jordan, Daniel Heffernan and Cian O'Rourke will be completing a skydive for Irish Red Cross to support their humanitarian work for Ukraine.

The three young men will be jumping from a plane from 13000ft off the ground at the Irish Parachute Club in Clonbullogue in north Offaly. The skydive will be filmed and posted on Facebook following the event.

Ballymore native Dan Jordan said “We were talking about doing it last Christmas, and were saying maybe we should organise it for this year but it was completely forgotten about. I then got it into the head a few weeks ago and I said 'Maybe we'll do it for the Ukraine crisis' and the Irish Red Cross were all on for it.”

They are hoping to raise money to help those fleeing war in Ukraine and thought that doing a skydive would gain more traction than another type of fundraiser.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and we might never do it again."

According to Dan it will be a bit of craic but it may be "a different story when we're in a little shaky plane and the door is open."

Mr Jordan has set up a Go Fund Me page for donations with all proceeds going to Irish Red Cross as the trio are paying for the skydive themselves.

Cian and Dan work for Munster Joinery and Daniel Heffernan works for Rohan Agri in Ballinahown.

They have raised €1,310 so far from 32 donations according to their Go Fund Me page

If you would like to donate to the fundraiser visit gofundme.com and search for 'Skydiving for Irish Red Cross.'