UPDATE 28/04/2010 - My son Mathew  will jump in my place. This wouldn't be his first choice of extreme sport, but he's doing it for me - I hope this goes some way to making up for me not doing it and that you feel your donation is still for an extremely worthy cause. Incidentally, he turned 21 this week, so he will have done something memorable for his milestone birthday as well as helping me - I'm proud of him!

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UPDATE 23/04/2010 I am very sorry and disappointed to say that I am unable to do my skydive, on medical grounds. I enjoy good health overall and hadn't anticipated any problem with my GP signing a declaration of fitness form which is required by the Parachute Club, but having gone through my medical history he has found a some issues which he believes will be too big a risk to take.

I cannot begin to tell you how I feel about this, to be deprived of this experience now is devastating. Even more devastating is that so many of you have sponsored me, I feel I've let you down. 

I hope to find something else to do, to 'earn' the sponsorship I've received and please be assured, I never intended to use any donations to fund the jump, that was (and still will) come out of my own pocket.

Please note, donations made through the JustGiving webpage are passed on to the charity within a week of donation, therefore the only way to reclaim would be from the charity itself - not sure how to go about this, but I'm sure there will be guidance on the charity website. Cash/cheque donations I have received will be still uploaded to JustGiving subject to whether or not people will wish to withdraw their donations. 

I had every intention of going through with this because I feel so passionate about helping our troops and their families - my only regret is that I didn't have the medical check earlier. Pride comes before a fall (literally), as the saying goes and that pretty much sums up how I feel right now. 

Thank you for your support and please accept my apologies for letting you all down.