80 people skydiving over Salisbury to mark D-Day 80th anniversary

They're raising money to support homelessness charity Alabaré veterans welfare scheme

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 1st Jun 2024

80 people are to skydive over Old Sarum today to help a Salisbury-based charity raise money to look after veterans.

With the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings during the Second World War is approaching, homelessness charity, Alabaré, is continuing it's support for those who have served our country.

"We're marking 80 years since D-Day and the Parachute Regiment were so key in what happened," Rebecca Mullen, the charity's fundraising events and development manager told Greatest Hits Radio.

The charity runs a Homes for Veterans scheme, which stems from the organisations founding over 30 years ago, to tackle the issue of former service personnel sleeping rough.

Ms Mullen said: "If you've been in the military, then you have that sense of camaraderie and community and you come out of it and often things become overwhelming."

And while it doesn't happen to every person exiting the military, it can have a severe impact on those who do suffer, but pride can hold them back from asking for the help they need.

"We created homes for veterans so they are surrounded by other people who've done a similar journey and we make sure that we have somebody that supports them, who's never served. I can say now that you're out of the military, we can help you have a fulfilling life," Ms Mullen said.

The series of jumps today will go into boosting that care, which each participant asked to raise at least £395.

"It isn't just a house, it is about that plan to get somebody back into training education or into a job and move people forward," Ms Mullen said.

Some of the remaining veterans who served at the time are expected to be on site to cheer on those who are jumping in honour of people who served.

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