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About me
... from the Burton News
A CLERGYMAN’S daughter has found her own way of getting a little closer to God — by jumping out of a plane thousands of feet up in the heavens.
Anneke Glasius became one of the youngest ever qualified skydivers when she got her licence three years ago at the age of 16 and was chosen to compete in the British Skydiving Championships in Lincolnshire in August.
Having just returned from an eight-day training session in Seville, southern Spain, and with more work to be done back home at Langar airfield, in Nottingham, the 19-year-old has set her sights firmly on finishing in one of the three medal positions.
The former Ashby School pupil, daughter of the Reverend Gert Glasius, minister of Ashby Baptist Church, said: Basically I’d always wanted to do skydiving. I’d seen it on television and had a friend who introduced me to where and how to get into it. What attracted me was the adrenaline. The first few times you just think it’s too scary and you’re not going to do it again, but the feeling after you’ve done it and hit the ground is amazing.
I do freestyle skydiving, which is basically gymnastics in the air, and at the championships it will be marked like gymnastics. It’s a great thing to have a go at but I’ve met people who try it and find it’s not for them. Skydiving chooses you. It’s not a question of being afraid of heights because when you’re that far up in a plane you can’t tell how high you are.
Anneke has already performed around 200 dives in her short career and it seems adventure runs in the family — brother Sam, 20, is an avid mountain climber.
Rev Glasius said: I think I’m a lucky dad really and don’t know anyone else whose kids are doing these sorts of things. It’s an interesting hobby and I try not to think too much about what can go wrong. I just try to support Anneke as much as I can.
Following her gap year, Anneke is planning to study geology in Birmingham and admits she would consider taking up skydiving full-time. It will cost Anneke, who is working at both WH Smith, in Ashby, and Measham’s, ARP Plastics, around £7,000 to train for and compete in the upcoming championships.
She needs between a further £3,000 and £4,000 to fulfil her dream and is appealing to anyone who is able to sponsor her to come forward.
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