Sky's the limit when Alzheimers Northland rewards fundraisers

Hannah Hunter, left and Pip Cotching from Alzheimers Northland try on the Skydive BOI gear, helped by Megan Rumble, left, and Andrew MacMillan.

Alzheimers Northland is going sky-high with a fundraiser challenge and offering a once-in-a-lifetime Dare to Dive experience.

A free tandem skydive will be offered to anyone, or a representative of a group, who raises more than $600 for Alzheimers Northland.

The special Dare to Dive skydive day will be held on Saturday, July 21 at Skydive Bay of Islands, Kerikeri.

Participants will experience 20 seconds of exhilarating freefall followed by a unique floating view of the Bay of Islands from the sky.

The event will allow those bold enough to take to the sky and do something amazing for the Northland charity, said Hannah Hunter, fundraiser at Alzheimers Northland.

"We are working closely with Skydive Bay of Islands who have given us a great discount so that we are able to give a skydive to anyone who raises $600 or more.

''Some participants may choose to cover the discounted cost of the jump themselves which will be even better, as more of the vital funds raised will come directly to Alzheimers Northland."

"This is an opportunity for anyone who has always wanted to take the leap to sign up,'' Hunter said.

Andrew MacMillan, from Skydive Bay of Islands, said it is the first time the local operation has been involved in supporting a fundraiser in this manner, but Skydive's Taupo operation has done it in the past.

"If the weather's good we can do up to 200 people a day. Eight people go up to jump at a time and we can bring up another plane if we need to," MacMillan said.

The company is used to handling big numbers at a time - cruise ship passengers and bus tour groups are big customers.

Everyone who signs up to Alzheimer Northland's $600-plus scheme will be given a fundraising pack with ideas on how to raise funds and details of how to collect sponsorship online.

''The profits from this extraordinary event will go towards ensuring that we can fulfil our vision of supporting all families in Northland living with dementia,'' Hunter said.

''There are many ways to get involved with our skydive day — nominate a friend, support our participants' fundraising efforts, organise an event to help raise funds, sign up a work team or a club team and do it together.

''Or we are keen to hear from companies who may sponsor the cost of a skydive."

Alzheimers Northland has more than 600 active clients to whom it offers advice, support, respite and professional education.

Over the last five years the organisation has seen an 85 per cent increase in the number of clients.

''We cannot reduce the level of support we give to our families so we must raise vital funds.''

To take part in the skydive fundraiser reward contact Hannah Hunter 021 174 9760, hannah.hunter@alzheimers.org.nz