Teddy Parachutes again…

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The YCPS are to repeat last year’s successful teddy parachute jump at this year’s Church Fete. The event will take place this year on 10th September 2016.

So how brave is your teddy? We plan to find out.

This summer, we plan to give you the chance to test your teddy’s bravery again by offering him (or her, for Edwina bears) the chance to parachute off the church tower.

We would ask you to make the parachutes and supply the teddies. There will be prizes for the best-dressed teddy and for the most sponsorship. We hope to have a ‘paratedic’ on hand in case (heaven forbid!) any teddy suffers any injuries.

We found last year that parachutes can easily be constructed by tying string to a supermarket plastic carrier bag.

Sponsorship forms have already been distributed at some schools and playgroups. They are also available at Yalding PO or via the YCPS website.

Sponsorship money (at least £5 for children and £10 for adults) should be brought with you and handed in when you register your teddy.

Please bring your teddy, sponsorship form, sponsorship donations and parachute to the registration table at the back of the church by 1pm.

The teddy should have its name firmly attached to its chest so that it can be easily identified before and after the jump.

Sponsorship Forms can be downloaded here –  2016 sponsorship form

To make a simple parachute then take a look here

 

Ready for Anything…

Stickers…

Already to be judged

Medal winner!

Fred Bear

Little treasure

Spider Monkey!

Even the “Adult Kids” joined in…

Ready to go

Teddies galore

The “Heath Robinson” Lift

Boris Bear

Boris is flying

Not so graceful on landing

Teddy Pew…

Yalding Church

Barclays Charity Matchfunding

A very fitting motto for all our teddies who braved their jump from the top of the Yalding Church tower at the Yalding Church Fete as it is also the Para’s motto!

What could be better than a sunny day and a plethora of teddies raining down from on high… It was a real unknown entity for the YCPS Trustees as this was the first time we had ever tried such an event and was not certain what to expect!

It had been a wet morning and the wind was a little blustery as we set up for the arrival of our “Brave Teddies”

There was a s”teddy” (pun intended) stream of well loved stuffed teds dressed in a wide range of costumes – A monkey in a Spiderman suit to a giant Teddy (Boris) with warm padded jerkin.

In face “Boris” was the first Teddy to make the descent into the drop zone as a test… Trustee Tim Chapman with relish launched him over the side and he plummeted earthward with an increasing velocity and bounced off a head- stone as he unceremoniously landed face down.

Our “Teddymedic” on hand declared he was fine and then as we hoisted the participating teddies to the top of the tower in our somewhat “Heath Robinson” lift built for this purpose. An expectant and vociferous crowd gathered below and the teddies began to ascend and then descend!

We had some forty plus entrants who had been generously sponsored. Our guest judge Margaret Preedie had agonised over who to award the prize for the best dressed teddy. This she duly awarded to “Fred Bear” – Lyn Hughes, who had made the trip from Cornwall and was jumping for his cousin Ted! with his knitted “Biggles” look and the most sponsorship raised was won by Martin Williams.

Extra prizes of rosettes and chocolate medals were also awarded to those deemed to have made a great flights, “Silver Bear” – Amy Maryon and “Snowy” – Sophie Maryon, “Super Ted” – Imogen O’Sullivan and Spider Monkey – Frank & Emily Goodacre

It was a hugely successful event for us as we raised over £500 with sponsorship that was then charity matched funded by Barclays Bank to ensure we have raised over £1000 to help bolster our funds to continue the support we offer.

We were delighted with this response and will welcome all entrants again next year at the 2016 Church Fete where we hope to see more Teddy Para’s who are “Ready for Anything”