You don't get if you don't ask - Funding for AFF

Well here goes, like they say you don't get if you don't ask.....

My name is Paul, I'm 37 and currently living with my soon to be wife (August 10th 2003) in Mossley, Tameside. I work as an ASP/SQL Server developer for a Healthcare company in the North West UK who are as tight as can be with salaries, hence having to adopt this unorthodox approach.

I recently did a tandem jump with Target Skysports at Hibblestow Airfield in N. Lincs, UK, as most of you will know it was the most exhilarating experience. As such I would love to take the sport up, however, and this is the crunch I simply can't raise the £1300 for the AFF course (well not in the next 2 years anyway).

What do I want (in case its not obvious already)?

I'm looking for generous person(s) who would donate some amounts of money however large or small to help me with the cost.

Why should strangers part with money to help somebody they don't know?

That's a difficult one; all I could say is that they would be doing me a huge favour in helping me achieve something that I would love to do. If I were in the position of being able to help somebody in a similar position I probably would, difficult to say in all honesty but I am that sort of person.

What will I give in return?

I will of course give all donors a full account of my experience and training and my eternal gratitude. Any major contributors I would be happy to sponsor on my jumpsuit and/or parachute and provide photographs for you of my jumps. Or, maybe I could do some web development work for you in return, as I am an ASP/SQL Server Developer. I don't know what else, but if you can think of something please I'm open to suggestions. If in the unlikely event of more money than is required being raised I will either donate it to a charity of choice (chosen by consensus) or sponsor somebody else in a similar position.

You sound a decent bloke, how can I get money to you?

Cash/Cheques of any amounts or currency to:

P. Moreland 38 King St Mossley Tameside OL5 9HX

I anticipate plenty of abuse/flaming so bring it on, abuse from strangers can often be amusing. If you have anything good to say then that would be most appreciated, if you haven't then simply ignore this post and carry on with your life.

I apologise in advance for cross-posting but I really need to get this out to as many people as possible to maximise the potential for

-Do what everyone else has had to do or is now doing and pay per jump for the course. If the place you are intending to learn from does not allow this go elsewhere!!!

-Mark.

Paul , you have a marvelous Idea here and I would definitely send you lots of money.... but , I am un unemployed construction worker and I already passed AFF. So, listen everybody I have a money saving proposition. I only need a couple of bucks to keep jumping. and it will give me something to do while you all are working. I will keep you all posted , as to what fun I am having while you all are working to support my jumping.

Blue skies soft ground

Tough. You don't want to enough.

When you want to enough, you'll find a way.

And if she's a wife-to-be worth having, she'll help.

Till then you shouldn't.

Both skydiving and marriage...

Like I say you don't get if you don't ask, but thanks for your helpful comments. LMAO

I am saving like mad to be able to afford it myself, I am anticipating nothing in fact I'll be amazed if I get anything other than abuse. But......... we live in hope, you people don't know me, you've prolly got in mind some sort of scrounging do$$er out to chance his arm. You are welcome to your opinions, however wrong they may be. Well chancing my arm, mmmmm maybe will hold my hands up to that one. Thanks everybody for your comments, keep them coming.

Eric, I'm sorry to hear about your unemployment, I hope you find a job as soon as possible, but thanks for the comments.

<Snip guy asking for money>

Go to the dropzone and become a Packer. $5 a pack job add up quick, we paid like $400 to our packer a few weekends ago for 1 days worth of packing.

That's like 80 pack jobs in a day, or at 10 mins a pack job, working over 13 hours, NONSTOP, packing. But if yer desperate, I guess it can be done.

8 hours. 5 people, back to back loads, 14 jumps + he picked up a few up jumpers. and most expirenced packers do not spend 10 min on a pack job, 4-5 min is more closer. Helps that the largest canopy is a 120 also.

He's 16, son of the former DZO, and has been doing it for awhile, better than most part time jobs if you can handle the wear and tear on the body.