Councillor Marian Cotton, the outgoing mayor of Wareham, successfully completed a tandem skydive to raise funds for the 2185 Isle of Purbeck Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC).
On Sunday, April 27, Cotton jumped from 10,000 feet at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury. Her skydive included a thrilling 30-second freefall, followed by a five-minute parachute descent.
The fundraising effort aimed to purchase a portable flight simulator for cadet training. Thanks to the generous support of the community, the skydive raised over £2,000—enough to cover the cost of the simulator. Additional funds will be used to buy other equipment for the cadets.
Cotton expressed her gratitude, saying, “I would like to thank everyone for their generous sponsorship. The skydive was an amazing experience and so worth doing to raise funds. I am thrilled.”
This skydive was one of several fundraising activities organized by Councillor Cotton. Altogether, these efforts brought in £4,110 for the ATC.
The successful campaign reflects strong community support for youth development programs in the area.