BOPDHB Checkup June 2019 | Page 15

Sky not the limit as daredevil Fiona jumps 10,000 feet for charity The sky was not the limit for Mental Health and Addictions Service Clinical Director Dr Fiona Miller (pictured above) as she skydived 10,000 feet for charity in this year’s Drop Your Boss event. Fiona made the jump at Tauranga Airport after being nominated by a colleague, raising $754 for the Graeme Dingle Foundation. “It was a fantastic day, beautiful weather, and it was lovely to be jumping over your home town with so many landmarks that you recognise. “The scariest bit was actually the tiny little plane we went up in, it was a bit bumpy getting up there, and I was actually quite happy to be jumping out.” Fiona had skydived once before and popped out in her lunch break to make the jump this time round. “The first one was 17 years ago, it was easier this time somehow. It was a really busy day at work, which I think maybe helped because I didn’t have much time to think about it.” Husband Dennis with children Cara, 9, Sandy, 7, Nicolas, 3, and two of Fiona’s colleagues, Anja Theron and Debbie Lawrence, watched the jump on Monday 20 May. Mental Health and Addiction Services Service Coordinator, Debbie Lawrence describes Fiona as ‘our very own daredevil’. “We all think she’s mad but we’re very proud of her at the same time.” Fiona would like to thank everyone who supported her and donated to such a worthy cause. The Graeme Dingle Foundation operates in the field of positive child and youth development and currently works with 27,000 five-to-18 year olds throughout New Zealand. It uses fun and safe experiential learning through the great outdoors to help young people keep on track, learn good values and set goals for the future. The foundation runs school-based programmes including Kiwi Can, Stars, Career Navigator, Project K and MYND. To find out more go to: www.dinglefoundation.org.nz 15