Skydive Everest 2008

See Holly's CBS interview

2008-10-08T16:17:00.005+01:00

See Holly's CBS interview by pasting this link into your address bar:
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4508744n

Everest Skydive - ITV West interview

2008-10-08T15:53:00.002+01:00

See Holly's ITV West interview last night here: http://www.itvlocal.com/west/sport/?player=WST_Sport_15&void=243762/

Holly Talks About Her Everest Adventure

2008-10-08T10:32:00.002+01:00

HOLLY is caught in the middle of a media whirlwind and has been rushing around doing interviews about Everest Skydive. Yesterday she was in Bristol to be interviewed on ITV West's evening news programme and then sped over to the BBC to appear live on the sofa for the Points West show straight afterwards. This morning she was interviewed on the BBC Breakfast sofa and later this morning she will be watched by millions of viewers in the US when she is interviewed on CBS's breakfast show which goes out around 12noon UK time. Watch here to see her Points West interview, which appears 14 minutes through last night's programme. www.bbc.co.uk/pointswest/latest_stories/

Holly Goes to Hollywood...

2008-10-07T11:18:00.002+01:00

HOLLY is back in the UK causing media mayhem by appearing on a raft of TV shows talking about her incredible adventure at Mount Everest.

Watch out on the local news in Bristol tonight and tune in tomorrow morning to see her chatting with the hosts of BBC Breakfast between 8am-9am. After that she'll be speeding off to the UK offices of an American broadcaster to appear on their breakfast programme.

All the coverage will feature never-before-seen footage of her freefall from 29,500ft alongside Everest and some of the highlights of the trip including the trek beforehand and scenes from the dropzone.

Meanwhile Holly got everyone on the trip to sign her Everest jumpsuit and will be auctioning it off on eBay to raise money for her three charities, The Hampshire Autistic Society, Regain and The Himalayan Trust.

Keep checking this news section for more details on her post-Everest activities.

First Woman To Skydive Mount Everest

2008-10-06T13:02:00.002+01:00

Holly Budge has become the first woman to skydive in front of Mount Everest.

She achieved her dream yesterday morning, jumping from a small plane at 29,500ft, with the magnificent mountain as a backdrop. She landed safely on the dropzone at Syangboche, as did Neil Jones, a Canadian, who jumped out just before her. Wendy Smith from New Zealand was the third person to do the jump, and filmed Holly in freefall.

Holly is now heading back to the UK with her mum, Linda, who accompanied her on the trip, and they are both looking forward to being reunited with her dad, Nick, who is very proud of his daughter's achievement.

To see Holly landing and being interviewed on the dropzone check out the Channel 5 or Sky News websites.

Holly FIRST PERSON to Skydive Everest

2008-10-03T12:14:00.003+01:00

NEWS just in from Nepal is that Holly will now be the FIRST PERSON to skydive in front of Mount Everest.

Holly was due to do a lower level practice jump today and the jump itself, from 29,500ft tomorrow (Saturday) but weather conditions have forced a change of plan and pushed things back a day. The "big jump" is now scheduled for Sunday.

Holly says she's thrilled at being moved to the front of the queue.

Keep checking here for updates.

Leap of Faith

2008-10-02T10:50:00.003+01:00

NEWS just in from Nepal - Holly has finished eight days trekking through the incredible scenery of the Himalayas and is preparing for her "big jump" tomorrow (Friday). The aim of the trek was to acclimatise Holly and the other 31 Everest skydivers to life at high altitude in advance of their jump from 29,500ft in front of Mount Everest. Holly is manifested to be the first woman ever to take on the challenge.

During a phone call from a hotel near the drop zone at Syangboche, Holly said: "We've been trekking for eight days and it's been absolutely amazing. It's beautiful blue skies here and we're going to make our first jump tomorrow (Thursday) and hopefully I'm going to do my big jump the day after (Friday).

Talking about the 31 other people she's sharing the trip with, she said: "It's a really cool bunch of people. A real mixture but we've been getting on really well. I haven't had any problems acclimatising, and that's going to really help me jump in the first load because I've acclimatised so well."

She said the group had been walking for about six hours a day and the Pilatus Porter jump aircraft, from Swiss Boogie, had now arrived in Nepal from Switzerland after a nine-hour flight.

She said: "Tomorrow's when it's going to start happening. I feel really fit and positive and ready to jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane!"

Keep checking the website for updates.

Holly on the Box

2008-09-11T11:55:00.004+01:00

Watch out this week on the local ITV West http://www.itvlocal.com/west/ evening news for a master class in packing a parachute, care of our very own Everest Skydiver Holly Budge.

Yesterday (Wednesday) Holly was joined by organiser Nigel Gifford, from adventure specialists High & Wild, http://www.highandwild.co.uk/ and Martin Preston, osteopath to the Red Devils, who is another participant on the adventure. They were all interviewed by ITV West veteran presenter Bob Constantine, who was very impressed with the trip, and their thrill-seeking natures.

Bob's eyes lit up as Holly and crew explained the magnitude of what they are about to attempt over a quiet coffee in Bristol's Bocabar, on the Paintworks complex http://www.paintworksbristol.co.uk/index.php?id=6 . Thanks to the manager Kit, for putting up with us and our requests to turn the music down and serve teas and coffees before the doors had officially opened for the day. Very kind!

The ITV West piece will detail Holly, Martin and 30 other people's bid to be the first group ever to skydive in front of Mount Everest from a height of 29,500ft. They will land on the world's highest dropzone at 12,350ft - the height most skydives usually start from.

Martin tried to persuade Bob to sign up for a tandem jump, without success, but he seeemd pretty mesmerised by Holly's parachute packing ability so you never know, he could be on the next one in May 2009!

Keep checking the website to find out when the ITV West piece will be on and for updates on Holly's impending adventure!

Holly Goes Global

2008-09-09T14:29:00.003+01:00

With just under two weeks to go until Holly leaves for Nepal, interest in her adventure has been attracting global attention but she's still looking for sponsors.

Thanks to an interview with international news agency Reuters, Holly's name has been splashed all over the pages of every newspaper from the Daily Star, in the UK, to the Nepal Mountain News so anyone wishing to invest in her adventure would get some great press coverage in return.

Watch out for more coverage of Holly and the Everest Skydive adventure in the coming weeks as preparations gather pace for the "world first" challenge.

Just in case you haven't heard - Holly and 31 others will skydive in front of Mount Everest from 29,500ft, falling at 140mph and landing on the world's highest dropzone, courtesy of adventure specialists High & Wild.

If you are interested in offering corporate sponsorship to Holly, please email rebecca@hipjointmedia.co.uk.

Thanks for your interest.

In training for Everest!

2008-08-28T16:14:00.002+01:00

In training for Everest!

The life of an Everest skydiver is never simple. August is nearly over and September fast approaching. Holly leaves for Everest on September 22 so her personal trainer Andy Wadsworth www.wadsworthtraining.com is pushing her harder and harder to get her into tip top condition for the trip.

This training is essential to ensure Holly is ready for the six-day acclimatisation trek at altitude, in the Himalayas, and then the skydive of a lifetime – alongside Mount Everest - oxygen assisted from 29,500ft.

She has to be physically and mentally prepared as she will be hurtling past Everest at speeds in excess of 140mph in temperatures of -40C, and her parachute, three times the size of her regular one, is designed to compensate for the faster landing at 12,500ft, on the highest dropzone in the world!

Andy, who thinks Holly's adventure is so impressive he is providing all her training free of charge, has geared up the punishing routines, challenging her with everything from off-road cycling to rowing, running and boxing, but she's loving it.

Meanwhile E-FLI, Holly's online training application for skydivers, is coming along nicely too and looks set for a launch on or around the Everest trip. The new corporate site will be up soon so watch this space!

Radio Ga Ga

2008-08-12T16:07:00.002+01:00

Holly's PR schedule is jam packed with just SIX WEEKS to go until she departs for Mount Everest. She had to pop back to Hampshire today for a visit to the dentist so we booked her in for an interview with the the Hampshire Chronicle. (Dentist am, interview pm, let's hope her dribbling wasn't too excessive!).

If you didn't catch Holly's interview on BBC Radio Bristol last Thursday, you can listen again here, but hurry up, it's available for a limited time only! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.shtml?/radio/aod/bristol_aod.shtml?bristol/drivetime_prater_thu
(scroll through to 36 mins to listen to Holly's interview)

Holly's being interviewed on Bristol's Star 107.2fm at 5.15pm tomorrow (weds).
She will also be the guest of Bristol's Original 106.5fm breakfast host Jed Pitman on Thursday morning between 8am and 9am.

And what's all this in aid of again? Well, Holly just happens to be aiming to become the first woman ever to skydive alongside Mount Everest in early October. She's using the opportunity to launch E-FLI, her online training application for skydivers. She and her crack team of web developers are working hard on it as we speak and there will be a new website up soon. Watch this space!

Thanks.

Holly Hits the Headlines (again!)

2008-08-11T17:24:00.006+01:00

Hi, It's Rebecca here, reporting from Hip Joint Media HQ, on Holly's latest Skydive Everest activities.

Holly’s busy doing lots of interviews on the TV and radio as her amazing trip to skydive alongside Mount Everest approaches. On Thursday, August 7th, she was on BBC Radio Bristol’s Drivetime show where host Ben Prater seemed most impressed by her plans to jump from 29,500ft, hurtling past Everest and landing on the highest dropzone in the world - a narrow landing strip perched above a deep valley. You can listen again via this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.shtml?/radio/aod/bristol_aod.shtml?bristol/drivetime_prater_thu
(scroll through to 36 mins to listen to Holly's interview)

Listen out for Holly on Thursday morning on Bristol's Original 106.5FM, when she's booked in for a chat with jovial breakfast show host Jed Pitman, between 8-9am.

As Everest approaches, so does the launch of E-FLI - Holly's online training application for skydivers. She's working hard to get it finished in time for a launch at Everest. Watch this space for more information. There will be a new E-FLI website soon!

Page Twenty Three Girl!

2008-04-29T08:40:00.001+01:00

Have been demoted from Page 3 girl to Page 23 in The Evening Post. Click on the title link above to have a look at the article!

Page Three Girl!

2008-04-19T13:21:00.005+01:00

Yesterday, The Southern Daily Echo made me a page three girl! (fully clothed of course!!)
Click on the title link above to read all about it!

BBC Bristol Radio Interview

2008-04-15T09:28:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I did an interview on BBC Bristol Radio. It will be on air tonight at 11pm on 94.9FM or 95.5FM so dig out the radio and tune in!

The Sky's the limit!

2008-04-09T14:00:00.015+01:00

Since my last post, I have returned from my season of snowboarding and filming in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a place I would highly recommend for some fun in the snow! On the Skydive Everest front, I have been busy approaching potential sponsors and have secured some media coverage. Next week I am doing a radio interview with BBC Bristol and hopefully some TV interviews with Echo TV and Meridian during a publicity stint at West Quay, Southampton, organised by the Hampshire Autistic Society. I have also been invited to a Sports Awards Lunch by Regain chairman, Roger Belson.

Last week , my mum and I attended a tribute evening to Sir Edmund Hillary which took place at the National Geographic Centre in London. It was a fantastic evening and the work of Sir Edmund and his charity, The Himalayan Trust is truly inspirational. I have approached this charity and expressed my interest in supporting their great work through donating a portion of the funds raised from Skydive Everest as well as supporting the above two charities.

Yesterday, I had my first fitness session at My Life Personal Training in Redland, Bristol with Andy Wadsworth who will be my personal trainer up until Skydive Everest in September. Thanks for the support Andy!

The Skydive Everest website is now in full working order, with thanks to Will Goldstone from Dark Link Media.Donations can now be made online via our PayPal SSL-Secured donation page.

It is indeed a very exciting time for me as the great response from all sorts of companies, organisations, friends and family is looking set to make Skydive Everest a roaring success!

Welcome!

2008-02-11T00:46:00.007Z

Thankyou for taking the time to visit my Skydive-Everest website.

Just over a week ago I secured my place on the Everest Skydive expedition. I have been busy designing my website www.skydiveeverest.co.uk to show my potential sponsors what I am intending to do. I am going to raise money for the following two charities, The Hampshire Autistic Society & Regain. The Hampshire Autistic Society are a charity who give choice, opportunity, professional advice, education, support and care to those affected by autism. Regain is a charitable organisation dedicated solely to improving the independance of all British men and woman who have become tetraplegic as a result of a competitve sporting injury. I am currently approaching a number of companies for sponsorship and equipment donations. If you would like to be a part of this and have something to donate, please get in contact with me.

I would like to say a huge thank-you to Nigel & Midori Crump, two very special people who have made this possible by securing my deposit and my place on the team.

I will keep you posted!