As Corey Henderson was about to jump from a plane last year, he paused to take in the view.
“It was so surreal,” he said.
The Orillia man couldn’t help but think of his wife, Catherine, who died in 2015, at age 37, of complications from having an epileptic seizure.
After all, she’s the reason he took the leap.
“Seeing the view and the atmospheric ring that looks like a halo, I was definitely thinking about her. For me, it’s a little bit closer to heaven,” he said. “I think about her every day.”
It was Henderson’s first time skydiving, and it was during a fundraiser he organized to raise money for Epilepsy Canada. Next month, he’ll do it again and he’s inviting anyone to take part in Catherine Jayne’s Skydiving for Epilepsy.
Money raised will go to Epilepsy Canada and Epilepsy Simcoe County.
This year’s jump will take place Sept. 7 at Skydive Toronto in Cookstown. The prices start at $338 per person, which includes fees and taxes. For every person who skydives, Skydive Toronto will donate $50 to Epilepsy Simcoe County.
“The more people I can get to register and jump, the better,” Henderson said.
Those who don’t want to skydive can still support the cause. Raffle tickets can be purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart on Westmount Drive, where Henderson works. The cost is $10 per ticket or three for $25. The prizes include tickets to a Toronto Argonauts game in September and tickets to Toronto Blue Jays games, also in September. They were donated by Tobias Investments in Toronto.
Moonwalk Entertainment in Barrie has donated a bouncy castle for the day of the jump.
Henderson is grateful for the support of the business community. Now he wants people to take the leap with him.
“You can cross it off your bucket list and it’s for a good cause,” he said.
For more information on how to get involved, check out the event’s Facebook page.