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PAULA Joynson did a parachute jump to raise money for a charity that helped her through a near-fatal illness
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Jump at the chance to say thanks
Pamela Welsh1/ 5/2008
A PLUCKY Pendlebury woman literally jumped at the chance to fulfil her lifetime ambition of doing a skydive seven years after suffering a debilitating brain haemorrhage.
Paula Joynson, of Clively Walk, raised over £1,000 for BASIC, the Salford charity which supported her through gruelling physiotherapy, by jumping out of a plane at 14,000ft on Saturday, April 26.
Paula was just 25 when she suffered a near-fatal aneurysm which left her in hospital for six months.
She fought to get her health back and planned a tandem parachute jump for exactly seven years to the day since she fell ill.
But bad weather made it impossible to jump and Paula was forced to postpone the event twice, but she finally made the leap of faith last weekend.
She said: "It was unbelievable. I had a good feeling about the day and I knew that this time it would go ahead.
"I wasn’t scared as such - except when I was sitting on the edge of the plane. I was a bit apprehensive because you are up so high, but then you just fall out and it’s such an amazing feeling.
"I would absolutely love to do it again and would recommend it to anyone."
Paula, now 32, has also warned other people to be aware of their health.
She said: "I had been getting a lot of headaches but didn’t think anything of it. Then one night, it got really bad and my boyfriend was terrified. He said my speech was slurred and he phoned my mum, who told him to phone an ambulance. The doctors said I had an aneuryism, which can be fatal."
BASIC (Brain And Spinal Injury Centre) is a registered charity on Eccles New Road which supports patients, carers and families from all over the country who are recovering from traumatic brain injuries and neurological conditions such as brain haemorrhage, brain tumour, stroke, head or spinal injury, MS, and brain cancer.
Paula, who had to give up her job as an administrator for Manchester City Council after being in hospital, said: "BASIC were amazing, they were just there to provide support and I’m glad that I was able to raise this money for them. They were a lifesaver for me."
To donate to Paula’s campaign or for more information, visit: www.justgiving.com/paulajoynson.
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