A blind and terminally ill former soldier achieved one of his bucket listing goals by collaborating in a thirteen,000ft tandem skydive. Mark Pile, 58 years old, who served in the Light Infantry between 1984 and 1993, needed to complete a skydive whereas he still had the flexibility. Despite having most cancers and just lately recovering from pneumonia, Pile was determined to tackle the challenge, with the assistance of a tandem teacher.
“The experience was every little thing I might have hoped for, the instructor was my eyes and explained every thing that he may see on the way down,” said Pile, who hails from Somerset. He was grateful for the help from pals, some of whom he hadn’t seen for over a year, who got here to cheer him on during the skydive.
Pile’s eyesight started to deteriorate in 2000, and he was later diagnosed with amblyopia, a hereditary eye condition that affects the connection between the brain and the eye. By 2011, he was registered blind, with solely 15% imaginative and prescient in a single eye. This led to him staying indoors for a decade, as he struggled to deal with his condition.
However, Pile’s life modified when he reached out to the charity Blind Veterans UK and accepted their help. He now credit the charity for “saving my life” and stated, “If it wasn’t for the unbelievable assist I’ve obtained, I wouldn’t be right here at present. I can’t thank them sufficient.”
In addition to the skydive, which raised £3,000, Blind Veterans UK also supported Pile’s ardour for images, enabling him to photograph an occasion at the Tower of London. Pile expressed his gratitude for the charity’s ongoing assist, saying, “I am so grateful for the chance to do that. Hush-hush that the charity remains to be helping me at this stage in my life.”