If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be climbing onto the wing of an aeroplane and flying through the sky, I’d probably have laughed and told you there was absolutely no chance!
I’m not an adrenaline junkie, and I’ve never been someone who looks for big, scary challenges to take on. So, signing myself up to do a wingwalk was definitely stepping outside my comfort zone. But honestly? It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
For me, it was about more than just the experience itself. I took on this challenge to raise money for Linc, a charity I work for and one that is incredibly close to my heart. When you feel so passionately about a cause, you want to do whatever you can to make a difference. Sometimes, that means pushing yourself to do something you’d never normally consider. And, in my case, that meant swapping my usual day-to-day of convincing our supporters to take on this challenge, for a rather unusual adventure in the sky!
Of course, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t nervous. In fact, I think it’s fair to say there were plenty of nerves along the way. After all, standing on the wing of a moving aeroplane isn’t exactly something you do every day.. One of the biggest things that helped me feel comfortable was the incredible support we received from all the instructors.
They were absolutely brilliant. From the moment we arrived, they helped us feel at ease, talked us through what to expect and made sure we felt supported throughout the experience. When you’re doing something completely unfamiliar, having people around you who know exactly what they’re doing and take the time to reassure you makes such a difference.
Here’s the thing: if you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds amazing, but I could never do that because I’d be far too scared,” I honestly want you to think again. I completely understand those nerves because I’m not someone who naturally gravitates towards this sort of challenge either. But being nervous doesn’t mean you can’t do something. Sometimes, it just means you’re about to do something extraordinary.
The whole experience was incredible, from the anticipation beforehand to the moment it was all over and I could take it all in. It’s one of those things that’s difficult to put into words because you really do have to experience it for yourself. And knowing I was doing it for Linc Charity made it even more meaningful.
Without a doubt, it’s an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It challenged me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and gave me a huge sense of achievement. Most importantly, it reminded me that we shouldn’t always let fear make our decisions for us. So, if you’ve ever thought about taking on a wingwalk but dismissed the idea because you don’t think you’re brave enough, my advice is simple: go for it!
You don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie. You don’t have to be fearless. You just need to be willing to give it a go. Trust me, it really is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. And I’m so grateful I said yes!
I took on the wingwalk challenge to support the launch of Linc’s new counselling service, which provides free specialist counselling to local blood cancer patients and their families.
The service currently has no waiting list, and we want to keep it that way by ensuring we have the funding needed to support everyone who needs us.
I’m incredibly proud to have raised £1,000 for Linc. Every penny will help make a difference, with just £800 funding 12 weeks of specialist counselling for a patient or family member.
Thank you to everyone who supported me and helped make this possible.
Guest blogger
Ellie Watkins
Fundraising Manager, Linc Charity
