26/10/2010 14:00
30,000 foot jump seals new record for Le Mans champ Nick Leventis
2010 Le Mans winner, Nick Leventis, has just completed a 30,000 feet jump into the record books. His tandem skydive over Mount Everest with jump partner Tom Noonan is the highest altitude tandem sky dive ever completed at the world's most famous mountain.
The Himalayas jump site is one of the most treacherous in the world and the jump was preceded by an arduous four-day trek to the drop zone. The ascent to the jump itself is also particularly demanding, as Nick had to cope with limited oxygen supplies and a very limited amount of time for the plane to operate at the altitude.
The jump was in support of Global Angels Foundation, an international charity that works with some of Asia's most disadvantaged children. Nick, who's Strakka Racing team won the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race this year, took part in the record breaking tandem skydive over the Himalayas on 19th October 2010.
The Himalayas is famously one of the most difficult places to skydive in the world and the death-defying leap of faith was 1,000 ft higher than the peak of Mount Everest, creating a new Himalayan record for the highest altitude tandem skydive jump.
Speaking immediately after landing, Nick said:
"It has been such a fantastic experience and I am so glad to finally have made the record this morning. It has been extremely mentally and physically challenging to cope with the demands of the weather, high altitude and extreme conditions that the Himalayas throw at you."
"I'd like to thank everyone at Explore Himalaya, and in particular Wendy Smith and Tom Noonan who I jumped with today for making this happen. As a Global Angels Ambassador I am extremely proud of everybody's exceptional generosity and together we have raised just short of £100,000 to help thousands of children in need. Plans are already in motion for something even more exciting next year!"
Nick and his wife Sophie have been ambassadors for Global Angels since 2009 and have raised over £85,000 so far for the charity from the Everest jump. The latest jump forms part of a four-year mission to raise $1 million for street children and orphans in Asia. All of the money raised will go towards several leading projects on the ground in Nepal and other Asian nations.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Global Angels
Is an international charitable foundation championing the causes of children and young people, developing creative and sustainable solutions. Global Angels is a charity that connects with a new generation of intelligent givers who want to know that their money goes directly to benefit the kids and the planet. Global Angels is supporting several dynamic projects throughout Asia, and is already having a tangible difference on the lives of thousands of orphans and street children.
Causes Global angels champion include:
- Communities living in extreme poverty.
- Trafficked kids and child slaves
- Street kids and orphans
http://www.globalangels.org/
Everest Skydive 2010
Everest Skydive Angels are a team of solo and tandem skydivers. We launched in 2008 as the first people ever to skydive in the Himalayas with halo jumps from 29,500ft. Mt Everest and the beautiful Himalayas lie beneath us. Our team comprises of Global Angels Ambassadors, Advisory Board members, Explore Himalaya/ Everest Skydive Staff, and Everest Skydive participants. Our collective aim is to raise $1 million over five years to empower street kids, orphans and poor children in Asia providing homes, education, food and sustainable solutions.
Nick Leventis
Strakka Racing is proud not only to have won LMP2 at the team's first attempt, but to have done so in dominant style; leading from pole to finish; setting a new class lap record; completing the greatest distance ever covered by an LMP2 car; crossing the line in the highest position yet achieved in LMP2 (5th overall), and winning the Michelin Green X Challenge award for Le Mans 2010. LMP means Le Mans Prototype, the fastest type of closed wheel racing cars in use today.
Nick Leventis, Le Mans Champion and Global Angels Ambassador. In May 2010 Nick and the Strakka team achieved a class win in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, establishing five new records. The team also achieved the first-ever outright win for an LMP2 chassis in Europe by claiming victory in the Hungaroring 1000 Kilometres. Throughout each of these momentous events, Nick held his own against vastly more experienced rivals, and enhanced his standing as one of the sport's most capable up and coming sportscar drivers.
For more information on Nick Leventis and his recent skydive, please visit the following websites:
Global Angels
Everest-Skydive.com
For more information please contact Jon Stanley at JAGO+
Jon.stanley@jagopartners.com
+44 (0) 7739 242890
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14/10/2010 10:20 - UPDATE
Nick Leventis is on board ESD 2010, and today he made a tandem leap from 27,500 feet above Mount Everest at Shyangboche dropzone around 13:00 hrs (local time). Accompanyning him was tandem master Kevin Hardwick.
This is one of a few jumps as Nick attempts to set a new record for the highest altitude tandem skydive.
He is the ambassador of Global Angels and the jump was made in support of Global Angels Foundation, an international charity supporting Asia's most disadvantaged children.
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12/10/2010 10:50
Le Mans Champion Nick Leventis Does 200MPH Straight Down
British racing driver Nick Leventis will shortly attempt to set a new record for the highest altitude tandem-skydive with a jump over Mount Everest.
The jump is being made in support of Global Angels Foundation, an international charity supporting Asia's most disadvantaged children. Nick, who's Strakka Racing team won the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race this year, has been an ambassador for Global Angels since 2008.
The death-defying leap of faith, will be completed in October 2010, and will show that Nick is not only king of the tarmac, but also king of the skies.
Speaking ahead of his jump, Nick said, "I cannot wait to get out to Nepal for the jump. Training has been quite intense and I have just completed a number of practice drops. The adrenalin rush is comparable to motor racing and it's an incredible feeling to see the earth rushing up at you at 200mph. The ultimate satisfaction however comes from knowing that we're raising money for Global Angels and the valuable work that they are doing."
Nick and his wife Sophie are aiming to raise £50,000 from the jump, with monies raised going to help feed, clothe and educate refugee children currently living in desperate conditions.
Nick and Sophie have recently returned from a trip to check out projects assisting Burmese refugee children. They made a moving short film of their trip, focusing on the plight of the refugee kids. They hope that through the film and the subsequent interest that this worthwhile but sometimes unknown charity will be able to increase and continue the fantastic work that it is currently doing.
To watch the film and to make a donation please visit the website.
http://www.globalangels.org/fundraiser/NickLeventis/
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
• Global Angels is an international charitable foundation championing the causes of children and young people, developing creative and sustainable solutions. Global Angels is a charity that connects with a new generation of intelligent givers who want to know that their money goes directly to benefit the kids and the planet!
• Strakka Racing is proud not only to have won LMP2 at the team's first attempt, but to have done so in dominant style; leading from pole to finish; setting a new class lap record; completing the greatest distance ever covered by an LMP2 car; crossing the line in the highest position yet achieved in LMP2 (5th overall), and winning the Michelin Green X Challenge award for Le Mans 2010. LMP means Le Mans Prototype, the fastest type of closed wheel racing cars in use today.
For more information please contact Jon Stanley at JAGO+
Jon.stanley@jagopartners.com
+44 (0) 7739 242890
To sponsor Nick please go to
www.globalangels.org/fundraiser/NickLeventis/