Shaun Murphy admits he’ll be “absolutely bricking it” when he makes a sky-dive from 15,000 feet later this month.
The world number six, whose return to form was capped by victory at the recent Duelbits Players Championship, is set to take part in the parachute jump on March 26, to raise money and awareness for charity Future Pathway, which helps military personnel and sports men and women train for new careers. Alongside (snooker MC) Phil Seymour and a member of the elite Red Devils parachute team, Murphy will take the plunge on Salisbury Plains.
“I wouldn’t normally speak on behalf of Phil, but we are both absolutely bricking it,” Murphy told the Yorkshire Post. “I have never done it before. Most people do their first jump from maybe 6,000 feet, ours is from 15,000 feet. Somebody pointed out to us on Twitter, that’s about three miles.
“Money is being raised, but sometimes it’s not necessarily money in the bank, it’s exposure and getting the charity’s name in the public consciousness. If us jumping out of a plane helps a former sports person, or a former military person, someone who has dedicated their lives to a career that is no longer there for them, then it’s worth it.
“We were asked to do it by one of our dear friends, the sports MC John McDonald,” Murphy told the Yorkshire Post. “He helped set-up Future Pathway, which is a charity organisation which helps former military servicemen and women when they come out of the forces. A lot of them dedicate their lives to defending the country and when their career in that world ends, they come out into civilian life with nowhere to go.”
The daring leap will take place the day before the start of the Duelbits Tour Championship in Hull, which Murphy could go into as second seed, having banked £237,000 on the one-year list so far this season. So he’ll be hoping to avoid accident or injury ahead of one of the most lucrative tournaments of the year, with a top prize of £150,000. The draw and schedule for Hull is yet to be announced as the final qualifying event is the WST Classic which finishes on March 22.
“It’s not what you would call ideal preparation!” jokes the 40-year-old. ” All being well, with no injuries, we will make our way to Hull on the Sunday night.”
Tickets for the final of the Duelbits Tour Championship in Hull have SOLD OUT and other sessions are selling rapidly. CLICK HERE for ticket details
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