On 28 May 2022 over 100 daring skydivers took to the sky in ‘Drop for Youth’ in support of local charity Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough. Amongst those droppers were a number of MGC students pushing outside their comfort zone and skydiving from over 9,000 feet!

Regional Manager, Kelvin Watt said “We’re so excited to have our community rally behind us. We’ve been humbled by the breadth of support! We had family groups jumping, teams of local businesses, young - and young at heart - all throwing themselves from a plane for a good cause”.

“And a big thanks to all the MGC students who took the plunge! To see the students themselves get in behind the cause, feels like real validation. They themselves are standing up and saying that this matters to them. We work with over 3,200 students across Marlborough and the support from the ‘Droppers’ will keep us working with all these tamariki and rangatahi toward our vision of ‘thriving young people, strong community’”.

Hear more from our MGC Droppers about how they found it below.

Te Ao Mārama

• I was so grateful to be a part of this fundraiser, especially with all of the support from our community and whānau. I truly believe that transformation of youth is something that we must invest in. The jump itself was an out-of-this-world experience. I wasn't nervous until I saw everyone else drop before me, but once I was in the sky it felt like I was on top of the world, literally. I would like to say thank you to everyone who donated, I couldn't have done it without your support. I recommended to anyone who has the chance to face their fear to just do it, you will not regret it. E ai ki te kōrero tūwhitia te hopo - feel the fear and do it anyway. 

Lava Tikeri

• Drop for youth 2022 was such an amazing experience and is definitely one for the books. Knowing that I can be a part of a movement that benefits our future generations makes it all worthwhile and would definitely do it all over again in an instant. 

Mya Wiapo

• I really enjoyed this experience a lot! I'm so happy I got the opportunity to do it, and the money I raised to get there was for a good cause too. I would definitely recommend a skydive to anyone thinking about it, it was the most amazing experience I've had. 

Leni Manson

• "My jump was truly amazing on Sunday - I loved every part of it. After the fast, exciting free fall my instructor and I relaxed in the air under the parachute singing 'Breaking Free' from High School Musical. It was an experience I will never forget."

McKenzie Snowden

• It was an unforgettable experience, made even more rewarding knowing that the money we raised is going to such a deserving charity! 

Other jumpers included

• Aria Millen
• Lily Pontague
• Jaimee Randall