Blind man takes the plunge from 10,000ft

As reported in the Express last month, Peter, of Tudor Close, Seaford, wanted to skydive to help others in a similar position.

Now he has raised a staggering 1,700 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society which is almost double what he expected to make.

And he said he wasn't a bit scared on Saturday when he did the 10,000ft tandem jump with an instructor at Headcorn airfield in Kent.

He said: 'I felt really positive about it and have spent a very long time psyching myself up. Besides, if I backed out, I would have to leave the country!

'It was really great. It was the only experience I can say truly earns the word awesome. It was a really amazing feeling, thundering through the air and all the air rushing by you, a bit like hanging your head out of a moving car but 100 times more intensified.'

Peter, 46, said that once the 'chute had opened, it was the complete opposite and almost silent. The instructor allowed him to take control of the parachute to manoeuvre it for a while. Peter said the response to his jump had been amazing and everyone, including work colleagues at East Sussex County Council, had been extremely supportive.

'We have held raffles, cake sales and clothes swaps at work and made 270. The children at Seaford Primary School wore their own clothes for a day and raised money for it.

'I am hoping to make 2,000 but that might be optimistic. It is all going to help local people with MS.'

The money will eventually go to the Eastbourne branch of the MS Society.

It is still not too late to make a donation. To contact Peter, call him on 01323 898805 or email him at [email protected]