An initiative which offers people with physical disabilities the chance to sky dive from 10,000ft in a tandem jump has taken place for the first time in Ireland.
"Handitandem" originated with a French Rotary club and once Portlaoise members heard about the physical and mental benefits for participants they decided to run an Irish version of it.
Three people made the jump at Clonbullogue in Co Offaly, which is the headquarters of the Irish Parachute Club.
"I first learned about 'Handitandem' on a visit to France and through my contact with Club Rotary de Matha in Charente-Maritime, who are the originators of the idea," said Portlaoise Rotary President Maeve Furey.
"We then established a 'contact club' relationship with them and invited them to Portlaoise.
"The aim of the project is simple, to offer people - who due to their physical disabilities would not normally have the opportunity to do so - the chance to skydive in a tandem jump.
"I gather from those who have done it that a parachute jump is an exhilarating never to be forgotten experience," she added.
"Our friends in Rotary de Matha have stories of disabled people who got weeks of pain relief after jumping due to the positive adrenaline effects on them. So, we see great potential benefits for people both mentally and physically in this initiative," Ms Furey said.
Kae Delaney, who is originally from the US but living in Portarlington, has cerebral palsy and took part in today's jump.
"It was amazing. I never thought I would get the chance to do something like this," she said.
Asked would she do a jump again, she smiled and said, "absolutely".
