Pair to do sky dive for charity
Two Black Country men will be taking part in a daring skydive to raise money charity.
Shaz Saleem, ambassador to the Mayor of Dudley Dave Tyler, and friend Jesse Perkins will make the 10,000ft plunge tomorrow.
The pair are raising cash for Councillor Tyler's nominated charities - Dudley Mind, the YMCA and Alzheimers UK.
They set a fundraising target of £1,000, and so far they have collected £845.
Mr Saleem is also chairman of Dudley Private Hire & Taxi Association
Mr Saleem said: “I've always enjoyed taking up a challenge for charity as I have in past climbed Ben Nevis and abseiled.
"This is a crazy but exciting challenge more importantly its for worthy causes.
"Working as an ambassador to the mayor has given me an insight to the amazing work these three charities do and I look forward to doing my bit for them.”
Mr Saleem looked into doing the sky dive in January, put discovered he was two stone too heavy according to safety restrictions.
He has since lost four stone for the dive, and now weighs 16 stone.
He said: "I've put myself under a strict diet and delighted I've got this far so I can do the dive."
The pair climbed Ben Nevis earlier this month as part of the Bert Bissell Memorial Walk.
It is held in Mr Bissell, who climbed the mountain on VJ Day in 1945.
He was born in Dudley and founded the Young Men's Bible Class.
He died in 1998, aged 96.
Mr Perkins, who lives in Dudley, said: “I'm very nervous and excited but very proud in helping raise money for charity, I'm glad to be working with Shaz again after been involved in the Bert Bissell Memorial Walk.”
Councillor Tyler said: "These lads are barmy but very brave, I cant thank them enough and everyone else who so far have donated please support them as we raise money for worthy causes."
The pair will be heading to Salisbury to do the jump.
To donate, visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/shazsaleem1
