So David, why you are jumping out of a small aeroplane to help a dog refuge?

DAVID Brennan is set to take part in a tandem parachute jump, dropping out the side of a small aeroplane above La Rochelle on 23 July.

He is raising money for Pepis Dog Refuge, in Seville, but just what makes someone take such a leap?

Here he writes how he got involved and you can support him by making an online donation.

"Why am I jumping out of an aeroplane over the sea? I’ll tell you why...

I’ve loved dogs for as long as I can remember. My love of greyhounds, and subsequently levriers and galgos started in England when an abandoned greyhound turned up at our home early one morning, and never left.

I’m passionate about anything to do with dogs and their welfare, and when my wife Beryl started Galgo News in November 2007, and later Podenco Post I was happy to support her work any way I could.

Inevitably my support was largely passive as she built a vast network of global contacts trying to make a difference to the plight of the poor dogs of Spain.

During the network building Beryl was contacted by a gentleman in the USA called Charlie Brannan. Over the months Charlie became a good friend who was passionate about greyhounds and supported Beryl’s work in many ways.

Charlie was in his late 70s and had done a sponsored parachute jump as part of his 70th birthday celebrations and he had decided to do another in September 2013 for his 80th to raise funds to help appeals.

Sadly, Charlie will not get to do the jump he was so looking forward to as he had a heart attack and died suddenly earlier this year.

When we heard of Charlie’s death I thought it would be fitting to continue some of the work he had not been able to complete. As Charlie had been planning a parachute jump I decided to do one in memory of him to raise much needed funds for one of the appeals being published by Galgo News.

I’ve never done a parachute jump before. In fact I’ve only once been in a light aircraft, as a special birthday present for my 13th birthday – I was terrified.

So I’m hoping for a calm day, and that light aircraft have developed considerably over the last 54 years. I’m a little nervous about jumping out of a plane, but I’m keeping my mind occupied with fundraising and trying not to think about what I’ll actually be doing on Tuesday 23 July.

It’s my first jump so I’ve chosen to do a tandem jump, which means that I’ll be firmly (I hope) attached to an experienced skydiver. Also, as I am not going solo I don’t have to undergo extensive and expensive training, just half an hour on the day, and then do as I am told.

My chosen venue is the La Rochelle Ile de Re airport on the coast as it is a beautiful area from the air.

The weekend of 20/21 July is National Greyhound Remembrance weekend in the UK, so I felt that 23 July would be appropriate to help support all the activities going on around then.

I’m jumping to raise money for Pepis Dog Refuge, Pedrera in Southern Spain.

Over the last 12 months they’ve suffered one catastrophe after another; two mud slides overran the kennels and piled up against the house, the house has been deemed unsafe; poisoned food was thrown into the kennels killing one dog and causing severe illness in others; the main electricity generator died leaving them with only emergency lighting; the health of the owners, Jane and Alan, has taken a hit this year with both having to be admitted into hospital, fortunately on separate occasions.

And at the last count they were looking after 74 dogs, with all that stress I’m not surprised they are having health problems.

It’s about time the wheel of fortune turned in their favour, I’m doing my bit and all I need is YOU to sponsor me to really make a difference.

Make an online donation now.