vvwuiiwduaj', ov*p icu iuv,i i , i y y y i n c w / \i\. v i i ^ c d l a v c i \. D l BARGAIN-RATE CAR INSURANCE WITH BARGAIN- RATE SERVICE IS NO BARGAIN. Don't trust just anyone to insure your car, see me: F o c u s OFFICIAL M EDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVlLLE*WATERFl?ONT FESTIVAL Your Ultim ate Oakville W ebsite LivinginOakville.com Oakville Beaver Focus Editor: W ILMA BLOKHUIS 845-3824 (Extension 250) Fax: 337-5567 Photos courtesy of Dan and Kathy Douthart Kathy Douthart floats down to earth from a height of 4,000 feet, above and left, raising $11,000 for Brainchild. At right, Kathy Douthart, parachute and helmet in hand, is ready to go up in the plane; and the Doutharts: Ryan, 7, Kathy giving herself the thumbs up after her jump, husband Dan, and Patrick, 5, Jump raises $11,000 for Brainchild B y W ilm a Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR t can be said Kathy Douthart was literally on 'cloud nine.' Since the end of June, the Glen Abbey resident has dreamed of making her parachute jump a reality. Then, on Sunday Aug. 22nd, it finally came true. "Finally . . . finally after five tries, I was able to make my parachute jump, and it was absolutely amazing. 'There's absolutely no words that can describe it. It was breathtaking. "It was like I was experiencing the flight of angels. It was quiet and sur real, peaceful. . .just amazing." Douthart, a Kindergarten teacher at St. John's school and honoured as one of four Halton Women of the Year by the Women's Centre, dubbed her feat A Leap of Hope. "It was just the most amazing experience, other than giving birth to children, that I've experienced in my whole life. "It was calm and quiet, and so breathtakingly beautiful. The weather was perfect, with little puffy clouds and no wind. "All I could hear was my chute opening. My chute opened very quickly. I wished I could have free fallen a little longer. When you push off the plane, it doesn't even feel like you're falling. Reflecting on the patchwork of farmers' fields she saw, "it really makes you realize how tiny you are in comparison to everything else." Would she do it again? "If I had my way, I would do it again. But if my family has their way, I won't do it again." A surprise birthday gift from hus band Dan last February for a lesson and jump at the Parachute School of Toronto, in Arthur, Ont., was turned into a fundraiser for Brainchild, a charity which supports parents of children with brain tumour disease. 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