Taking to the skies for Salvation Army

Bernadene Kilner (54), who has worked at the Salvation Army store in Mexborough High Street for five years, is keen to continue helping the good

cause outside of working hours and decided to back a campaign to fight human trafficking.

She had planned to jump out of a plane earlier this year until the Covid-19 pandemic put everything on hold.

The all-clear to reorganise the jump was given in August, but there was more frustration when cloudy conditions saw it called off again.

But Bernadene finally achieved her goal last Thursday when she completed the  drop over Hibaldstow Airfield in Lincolnshire.

“It was amazing,” she said. “I have a fear of heights but I think the adrenaline and excitement kicked in and I was more excited than nervous.

“It is something I had always wanted to do and now it’s ticked off my bucket list. I certainly wouldn’t say no to doing it again.”

Bernadene, of Conisbrough, said the airfield and jump crew had been at pains to put people at their ease and her tandem instructor had worn a mask throughout their time together, except during the jump itself.

“My instructor was called Karl and he was doing everything to put my at ease,” she said. “He joked that he was on YTS but he had been doing tandem jumps for 12 years.”

She added: “I did not scream when I jumped, I was just beaming all the way down.”

Bernadene initially planned to go for the 10,000ft jump but opted to add on another 5,000ft on the day.

“I thought: ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’,” she added.

“It is one of those things I will take with me forever.”

Bernadene has raised £1,200 so far for the Salvation Army campaign.

You can still sponsor her at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bernadene-kilner.