Fundraising for the Afghanistan Trust
Archbishop receives Red Beret
On Saturday 17 July 2010, the Archbishop received his Honorary Red Beret from the Parachute Regimental Association. His award was given in recognition of the Archbishop's fundraising efforts on behalf of the Afghanistan Trust at Eden Camp, near Malton.
The Archbishop's Parachute Jump
The Archbishop of York completed his charity sky-dive in a puff of orange smoke on 6 June 2008.
John Sentamu's tandem jump from 12,500ft with a member of the Red Devils parachute display team over Langar Airfield in Nottinghamshire was called off in May due to bad weather. But today the rain and wind held off, allowing the Archbishop's jump to go ahead.
During his 45-second free-fall, two members of the Red Devils parachute display team, with orange smoke streaming from canisters strapped to their legs, joined him mid-air in a mini-display routine.
At 5,000ft, his parachute opened and five minutes later he landed safely back at the airfield.
The Archbishop had planned the jump after meeting Yorkshire businessman Guy Brudenell at a charity dinner to raise funds for the Afghanistan Trust, a charity that supports the families of paratroopers from 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, who have been wounded or killed whilst serving in Afghanistan.
A website A website in support of the trust can be viewed at www.afghanistantrust.org