Hazel Massey’s bungee jump raises more than £1,000 for Samaritan’s branch

Hazel-Wendy Massey, who did a bungee jump in New Zealand to raise money for the Samaritans, for which she volunteers (Image: Archant)

Hazel-Wendy Massey works with the Ipswich and East Suffolk branch of the charity and blogged about her jump while on holiday.

Her target was £1,000, but so far she has been pledged more than £1,600.

And it was also a chance for Mrs Massey to conquer a personal fear.

“I’m terrified of heights,” she admitted, “but I like challenges and I knew you could bungee jump in New Zealand.”

Talking of the experience she added: “It was horrible – it was my worst nightmare.

“I have done things like a tandem parachute jump before and that was raising money for the Samaritans as well.

“I was very scared, but I enjoyed that, this was the first time I thought ‘never again’.”

Mrs Massey also said the fundraiser could be seen as a metaphor for the work the Samaritans do to help people who are considering taking their own lives.

“I realised I was doing a jump from a bridge and we have people who take their lives off the Orwell Bridge and it felt there was a connection there,” she said.

Mrs Massey added it felt like the Samaritans were the bungee cord which could save people who were in such a desperate situation.

“It was difficult standing on the edge feeling so vulnerable,” she said. “How hard it must be for them to do it knowing there’s no rope to pull them back.”

Anyone who would like to donate to Mrs Massey’s fundraising can visit her Virgin Money Giving page here.