Nick Leventis skydives Everest

30,000 foot skydive seals new record for Strakka's Nick Leventis

2010 Le Mans class-winner Nick Leventis has just returned from Nepal having completed a 30,000 foot leap into the record books. His skydive over Mount Everest with jump partner Tom Noonan is the highest altitude tandem skydive ever completed at the world's tallest peak.

The Himalayan location is one of the most treacherous in the world and the record attempt was preceded by an arduous four-day trek to the drop zone. The ascent by Pilatus PC-6 aircraft to the jump altitude itself was also particularly demanding, as Nick had to cope with finite oxygen supplies and a very limited period for the plane to operate at such a height. Hazardous weather conditions forced the team to abandon the first two attempts, but the third flight met with success. Considered to be one of the most challenging places to skydive, the death-defying leap began 1,000 ft above nearby Mount Everest, establishing a new Himalayan altitude record for a tandem skydive.

The jump was in support of the Global Angels Foundation, an international charity that works with some of Asia's most disadvantaged children. Nick, who shared the LMP2 class win in the Le Mans 24 Hours this June with Strakka Racing's Danny Watts and Jonny Kane, completed his skydive on 19th October 2010. It came towards the end of a year when breaking records has been a regular feature of Nick's life, having established five new benchmarks at Le Mans, and also being a member of the first LMP2 team ever to win outright in Europe. Strakka Racing took an unprecedented overall victory at the Hungaroring 1000 Kilometres in August.

"This has been such a fantastic experience and I am so glad finally to have set the record this morning. It has been extremely challenging, both mentally and physically, 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 already raised over £85,000 for the charity. This latest skydive forms part of Global Angels' four-year mission to raise $1 million in aid for the street children and orphans of Asia. In Nick's case, the money raised will go towards helping the Burmese child refugees of Mae Sot, a town in northern Thailand on the border with Burma, which he and Sophie visited in July. The record-breaking skydive is one way Nick feels he can raise the funds to help feed, clothe and educate these resilient but desperately needy children.

Please, step up to the mark and be an Angel. It is not too late to support Nick in his skydive and help the children of Mae Sot. Please visit the Global Angels website, where you can pledge your support and make a donation. The full 100% of all money donated to Global Angels goes to the cause -- there are no administrative fees or overheads.

-source: strakka