Chesterfield-based refrigeration and air-conditioning company, Ultra Refrigeration recently took to the skies in order to raise funds for local children and young people’s disability charity Fairplay.
Ultra Refrigeration manager Steve Shipp is a qualified skydiver, with the company supporting Fairplay since 2018. Previously Steve raised £2,000 for them when he completed the Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara desert, widely regarded as one of the toughest foot races on earth.
Steve described how the rest if the Ultra Refrigeration team wanted to get involved with their most recent charity effort: “I’m a qualified skydiver and will talk about skydiving whenever given the opportunity. A number of our staff had approached me asking how much it would cost to do a tandem skydive.
“All the staff were given the option as their Christmas bonus 2019 to have a tandem skydive voucher or the cash equivalent. 12 staff opted for the voucher. The move to raise money for Fairplay was a simple and obvious next step.”
Steve also explained why he continues to support the charity: “Seeing first hand the fantastic work that Heather and her team at Fairplay do for these children and young adults is very humbling.”
The skydives were done at Skydive Hibaldstow in North Lincolnshire. They were completed on 9th August, 29th September and 2nd October. The team managed to raise a total of £415 for taking the plunge. Team members described the skydive as “terrifying but exhilarating,” “insane” and “life changing.”
Fairplay will be using the money raised towards the expense of the trips they arrange for the children.
Steve says: “This is where they have the opportunity to experience a whole range of activities that we might simply take for granted. After the skydives were completed I visited the children and young adults at Fairplay. Some of them now want to experience skydiving too. Heather has left that mission with me!”
Ultra Refrigeration supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
