Mary leaps from skies to raise charity cash

When it comes to adventure, the sky’s the limit for Corinium Care's live-in carer Mary Norris.

The 61-year-old jumped from a plane at 10,000 feet in a charity skydive, and the next day she took part in a 10k run in 31 degrees of heat.

“The skydive was absolutely awesome,” said Mary, who has been with Corinium since 2011.

“I was a bit nervous getting kitted up. Then you edge towards the back of the plane and realise it’s too late to go back. Then you jump and just drop. It was so quiet. I felt like a bird.

“It was tremendous. I’d have loved to do it a dozen more times.”

The next day Mary left her skydive base in Cumbria and ran in a 10k event in London.

“It was stinking hot so it took me 1hr 20mins – my worst time ever,” she said.

“My two children think I’m nuts, but they know their mum – I like to do weird and wonderful things and they were thrilled to bits.”

Mary is currently caring for a client in Lincoln who has Parkinson’s Disease. It was because of her client’s condition that she chose to raise money for Parkinson’s UK and has raised more than £700 so far.

“She is more thrilled about all this than I am,” said Mary. “She has been my PR officer in a way, getting me extra sponsors. She is really not well at the moment, but it put her on a high and helped get her through the weekend.”

Mary thanked Corinium Care for their support as well as their sponsorship. “Corinium Care are a great team. The training we’re given and the support that’s there for us carers is exceptional. Thank you Corinuim!!”

Amanda Butler, Commercial Director at Corinium Care in Nailsworth, congratulated Mary. “We’re proud to sponsor Mary – her courage is an inspiration,” she said.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Mary can do so at www.justgiving.com/esther-mary-norris