A FORMER paratrooper is to relive his army days with a military-style parachute jump to raise money for autism charity Daisy Chain.

Jason Hartigan, from Darlington, a corporate supporter of the charity, is travelling to Holland to carry out the round-canopy parachute jump as they can no longer be carried out in the UK.

Mr Hartigan, a business development sales manager, has supported the charity for a long time and has completed three Great North Runs for Daisy Chain.

He said: "It’s my fiftieth birthday this year so I wanted to celebrate in style and do something that would help me relive my youth. I joined the parachute regiment when I was 18, nearly 30 years ago, and I wanted to go back and do something I had done as a young man and raise funds for Daisy Chain at the same time."

He is hoping to raise a minimum of £500 for Daisy Chain and is planning to undertake the jump in May with Pathfinder International Parachute Group based in Teuge in Holland.

The group was set up by Sergeant Roy Mobsby and Brigadier (retired) Ron Ball supported by Ian Marshall, a serving member of the British Parachute Association Council and a former Paratrooper. They run courses regularly for people from all over the world as well as World War Two reenactment events and charity jumps for which they donate 100 euros to the participants’ chosen charity if they raise a minimum of 500 euros.

The course takes five days and there is the opportunity to undertake five jumps

Mr Hartigan added: ‘I am really looking forward to it. I joined the parachute regiment when I was a young man but fractured my leg during training then contracted pneumonia when I was in rehabilitation so leaving the regiment was a real low point in my life.

"I re-joined 4 Para in 1990 with my brother, and Passing ‘P’ Company to get our red berets was hard work but very special. This course gives me a real opportunity to go back and experience the real deal."

Stuart Dexter, Daisy Chain chief executive, said: "It’s fantastic that people can choose to do something really exciting and fun and raise money for charity at the same time.

"I am delighted that Jason is taking this opportunity to do something very different and that he has chosen to support us at the same time. It shows that raising money for charity can be a great adventure and as action-packed as you want it to be."

Daisy Chain is also offering a skydive experience, 10,000ft tandem dive, at Shotton Airfield, Peterlee, on Saturday July 14. It’s £45 entry fee with a minimum sponsorship of £395. To book call on 01642-531248 or visit https://www.daisychainproject.co.uk/Event/skydive-2018

Jason is hoping to raise a minimum of £500 for Daisy Chain and is planning to undertake the jump in May. To support him, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jason-hartigan3