Plymouth grandad smashes epic challenge in -20C temperatures

A great grandad has raised more than £1,600 for a Plymouth animal sanctuary by sky diving 15,000ft in temperatures of -20C. Roger Marshall, who lives in Plympton, smashed his £500 fundraising target, more than tripling the amount he hoped to raise for Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary, on the edge of Plymouth.

The epic skydive was organised by animal lover Roger to mark his 85th birthday, with wife Viv, funding the challenge so that every penny could help unwanted and abandoned animals.

Watched by Viv, daughter Debbie and her partner Shaun, a nervous Roger took off in a light aircraft from Dunkeswell Airfield in Honiton where, attached to an instructor, he plummeted 15,000ft in freezing conditions.

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“It was a bit scary,” he said, “especially the moment when we jumped out of the plane. You go face first and the cold hits you, it’s absolutely freezing. You freefall for about 10,000ft but it doesn’t feel like freefalling. It’s surreal really.

“My legs felt like jelly when we landed. Once I was down on the ground, I felt euphoric. I had done it, I had achieved it - not many 85-year-olds would do it. It was a relief once it was done.”

Thirty years ago, Roger did a half marathon in aid of Woodside, raising hundreds of pounds. Now unable to run or walk very far, having had two hip replacements, the Plympton grandad decided a skydive was the next best option.

“I said that if I could raise £400 to £500 I would be more than happy,” Roger said. “To raise more than £1,600 is absolutely amazing – that will help a few animals! I’ve always been an animal lover and if I can do something to help the animals, that’s brilliant.”

Roger celebrated his achievement with a couple of drinks with friends on Plympton Ridgeway, where he’s somewhat of a celebrity these days. “I go up to the Conservative Club in Plympton and a number of people have said they’ve seen my photo in the media. I’m quite the celebrity in Plympton!” Roger joked. “I’ll have to charge £15 for an autograph and £10 for a photo! It’s all for a good cause.”

Roger’s daughter Debbie said: “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world! He’s amazing. I said to him ‘I’m so proud of you, to have done that at 85 when you have a fear of heights is amazing.” Woodside manager Lisa Darcy said the lengths Roger had gone to help rescue animals was remarkable.

“It’s really lovely when anyone raises money for us but when people clearly push themselves far out of their comfort zones and take us by surprise with how far they’re prepared to go to help our animals, it really is special.”

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