Shirley Ballas showcased her daring side on Saturday as she embarked on an incredible 13,000ft skydive to raise money for suicide prevention charity CALM in honour of her late brother David.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 62, looked in good spirits as she leapt out of a plane over Peterborough and broke through the clouds at over 120mph as she completed the third of her ‘Skyathlon’ challenges this week.
Shirley and her family was left devastated when her brother David, from Wallasey, Merseyside, died aged 44 in 2003 after suffering from depression.
And the star was sure to make David and her loved ones proud as she accomplished the daring feat in order to help Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) aid those struggling with life and stop more being lost to suicide.
Dressed in a white CALM T-shirt and a yellow head band, Shirley looked terrified as she shuffled to the edge of the plane and prepared to jump at one of the oldest drop zones in the country with her instructor secured to her.
Wow! Shirley Ballas embarked on an incredible 13,000ft skydive on Saturday to raise money for suicide prevention charity CALM in honour of her late brother David
Go girl! The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 62, looked in good spirits as she leapt out of a plane over Peterborough and broke through the clouds at over 120mph as she completed the third of her ‘Skyathlon’ challenges this week
However, she conquered her fears and was soon soaring through the sky, taking in the breathtaking views of the countryside and four counties on her way down.
Upon landing, Shirley showed off her hands in which she’d written her late brother David’s name on.
Ahead of her dive – in which she was also joined by two competition winners – Shirley told how her heart was ‘racing’ and ‘banging inside’ her chest as she expressed her nerves ahead of the challenge.
But upon completing the skydive, though she confessed she was still ‘terrified’, she found it ‘exhilarating’ too.
She said: ‘The Skydive today was by far the most difficult challenge, it was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time, leaving the plane was the terrifying part but floating amongst the clouds was the exhilarating part.’
Shirley’s skydive completes the last of her three jaw-dropping ‘Skyathlon challenges which saw her fly 120mph across the world’s fastest zip line, while she also completed an incredible 700ft wing walk in aid of CALM.
The charity’s helpline staff receive 25% more calls during the summer months and speak to someone who is struggling every 59 seconds.
Every day 18 people in the UK tragically take their own lives. CALM exists to change this – by offering life-saving support, creating culture changing campaigns, and bringing people together across the country to reject living miserably.
Incredible: the star was sure to make David and her loved ones proud as she accomplished the daring feat in order to help Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) aid those struggling with life and stop more being lost to suicide
Petrified: Dressed in a white CALM T-shirt and a yellow head band, Shirley looked terrified as she shuffled to the edge of the plane and prepared to jump
Incredible: However, she conquered her fears and was soon soaring through the sky, taking in the breathtaking views of the countryside and four counties on her way down
Tribute: Upon landing, Shirley showed off her hands in which she’d written her late brother David’s name on
What a woman: Upon completing the skydive, though she confessed she was still ‘terrified’, she found it ‘exhilarating’ too
Last year Shirley fought back tears as she discussed her late brother’s tragic suicide, with the star saying how he was ‘everything to me’.
Almost 20 years from his death she became emotional during an interview on This Morning as she reflected on the warning signs of her sibling’s internal struggle.
She was seen wiping away tears as she touched on David’s photo being among many which features in an exhibition CALM at London’s Southbank, which shows the smiling faces of 50 people shortly before they took their own lives.
Speaking to hosts Phillip Schofield, Shirley said: ‘Seeing my brother there in display in Southbank brought everything back, if I knew now what I knew then I could’ve helped.
‘Everybody loved him. He was a big brother. He was like a father. He was everything to me.
Scary stuff: Shirley’s skydive completes the last of her three jaw-dropping ‘Skyathlon challenges which saw her fly 120mph across the world’s fastest zip line
What a thrill: While she also completed an incredible 700ft wing walk in aid of CALM
Tragic: David, from Wallasey, Merseyside, took his own life aged 44 in 2003 after suffering from depression, leaving Shirley and her family heartbroken (pictured last year)
‘We talked every day at four o’clock. He was really the last person that I would ever think would take his own life.’
Since her brother’s death, Shirley has become an ardent campaigner for mental health awareness, even setting up charity The Ballas Foundation with her son Mark.
Shirley was said to have felt ‘overwhelming grief’ when her brother David took his own life in 2003.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) stands united against suicide with everyone in the UK.
The campaign is led through vital, life-saving support, impactful conversations and collective action. If you’re struggling, talk to CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (UK) or through our webchat.
Our trained support workers are available from 5 pm to midnight every day to provide practical support and advice, whatever you’re going through. To find out more about CALM , our services or for support or advice visit www.thecalmzone.net.
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