A parent at Three Ways School in Odd Down has challenged himself to face his fear of heights to raise funds for the school which offers a specialist learning environment to over 220 pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities aged 3-19 years.
Dane Gumas hates heights and travelling fast but is going to try and overcome these to raise money for new playground equipment at the school. To this end, he has taken on the challenge of riding The Star Flyer in Orlando, the world’s second largest swing ride, in aid of the school.
Dane, whose son attends Three Ways School, explained, “Now I’m not a thrill seeker – I’m secretly the biggest wimp you can imagine – when it comes to heights, standing atop anything taller than the average two storey building would have me terrified beyond words. This is where The Star Flyer comes in.
“Standing at an unthinkable 450ft, riders are lifted to the top of the tower, secured only by a lap bar and a seat belt. Suspended by a series of chains, the ride begins to spin, reaching speeds of up to 45mph. If that isn’t horrifying enough, the ride is said to last between three to four minutes – an eternity for anyone like me who suffers from fear of heights.
“Normally I would look at an attraction like this and say, ‘Absolutely no chance’. This, for me, is the physical embodiment of a nightmare. But…. for a good cause, and the sake of entertainment… I’m willing to reconsider.
Dane has taken on the challenge as a huge thank you to Three Ways for the support and personalised care the special school has been able to offer, especially during the pandemic. The funds raised will go towards updating the playground in the primary area of the school.
To support Dane’s fundraising please go online to https://app.investmycommunity.com/campaign-page/orlando-starflyer