Padiham fitness fanatic braving skydive to raise money in memory of dad

Sinead Hines (42), who represented Great Britain at the European Masters Classic Powerlifting Championships earlier this year, wanted to do something "truly terrifying" to raise money for the East Lancashire Hospice.

Her dad, Gary Clegg, spent his final few days at the hospice in 2018 and Sinead said she thought this would be a brilliant way of giving a little back to the place that cared for him so well.

"I had never been to a hospice before," said Sinead. "You have an image in your head, but it was nothing like that. The place was fantastic, it was beautiful; and the volunteers were amazing. The couldn't do enough for you.

"I didn't feel conformable taking my children to the hospital, but I felt fine taking them there. Without the hospice they would not have been able to see their grandad. It helped them with the transition.

"I can't thank them enough for all they did."

The skydive will take place on October 10th when a plane from Lancaster's Black Knights Parachute Centre will climb to around 15,000ft before seeing its passengers disembark.

Sinead, who is member of FX Fitness Experience in Burnley, has managed to convince fellow members Coral Clough and Sarah Kendall to join her on the day.

"My dad would have been 60 earlier this year and I thought this was a good way to pay tribute to him, and raise money for the hospice...by doing something truly terrifying.

"I was supposed to do it in July but it was postponed because of lockdown. When I got the email saying it was back on I asked Coral and Sarah if they wanted to do it with me.

"None of us have ever done a skydive before so we don't really know what to expect."

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