LHM's Paul takes to the skies

DROPPING thousands of feet through the sky with a t-shirt bearing the picture of her beloved fiance on it is how Gemma Polino is hoping to raise pockets full of cash in memory of Corporal Rob Deering.

Rob was killed in action in Afghanistan when on December 21, 2008 - just days before Christmas and just months before he and Gemma were due to tie the knot on his return from duty.

Ever since the day she got the news no loved one wants to hear, life has been a struggle for Gemma as she tries to come to terms with her loss.  Helping her through these tough times has been the Royal Marines Benevolent Fund, who she claims she simply couldn't have coped without.

The principal purpose of the fund, set up in 1997, is to benefit persons who are serving or who have served in the Royal Marines, or their dependants, to relieve need, hardship or distress.

And now Gemma - along with her brother Damian , cousin Daniel and friends Gareth and Paul - is preparing to throw herself out of a plane in a charity skydive to say thank you to the charity and pay tribute to Rob.

"I want to raise as much money as possible for the charity which has been fantastic to me," she said.

"I am going to be terrified doing the jump because I am scared of heights but I know that Rob will give me the strength to do it, along with the support of my brother Damian and Daniel, Gareth and Paul.

"I hope people will give generously and help us raise as much money as possible."

The daredevil quintet will all be wearing the t-shirt with a picture tribute of Rob and the Royal Marines Benevolent Fund emblazoned across them.

The jump is taking place on Saturday, September 12 at Hinton Skydiving Centre in Oxford.
Anyone wanting to donate should log onto:
www.justgiving.com/gemma-polino

Chris Willmott 20 August 2009 - The Solihull Observer