Having got involved with Bamako, when the opertunity to undertake a skydive for them I, literally, jumped at the chance.
I've always wanted to do one and now I could do it for a good and worthy cause. I made sure I paid for the cost myself to ensure all donations went to Bamako.
The first sensation felt from leaving the plane was one of total overwhelming overload. The two instructors get you back in check and, before you know it, you've dropped 8,000 feet. Opening the 'chute leaves you with a sense of relief and then the realisation you are 6,000 feet up with nothing between you and the ground. All I'll say is, make sure you pay attention to the last hundred feet. They come up pretty quick and if you don't pull the brakes all the way, you end up doing a full on sliding dive like I did (along with my then 2yr old piping up, "Daddy fell over!" on the video).
Would I do it again, oh yes. And definitely for Bamako.
