Why did the beauty queen and the actress jump out of an aeroplane at 12,000 feet.

Because they’re good mates, because they’re quiet thrill seekers and because they saw a chance to raise money to make a difference to a young challenged life.

The beauty queen is Jerry-lee Ngareta Hill. The skydive was her idea.

“And I thought, ‘Oh, I'd love to do that too’,” says the actress Maria Moore.

The idea was one thing, the reality at cloud level was another.

Maria Moore (left) and Skydive Tauranga instructor (right). Photo supplied.

 “Jerry Lee was sitting by the door (of the aeroplane). She had to jump first and she's terrified of heights.” But she made her friend proud.

“A big hats off to Jerry Lee. She had to really woman up.” Maria Moore had her own demons to deal with.

 “There’s that negative chatterbox in your head going, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Don't jump’.  

The reason to confront and overcome those fears was the Graeme Dingle Foundation. The Foundation helps kids get mentors, go on adventures, get confidence and build their inner strength.

“If you teach a kid now and give them confidence, they’ll probably make better choices in their life and they won’t go off the rails,” says Maria.

Skydive Tauranga has a partnership with the Graeme Dingle Foundation that has been going on for ten years, says Skydive Tauranga instructor Tristan Webb.

“A small portion of the money raised goes towards paying for the jump, and the rest goes to the Graeme Dingle Foundation.”

Maria Moore (bottom) and Skydive Tauranga instructor (top). Photo supplied.

Each year about 100 people jump for Dingle Foundation schemes Project K and Drop for Youth.

Project K impacts at a key time in a young life. It builds self-confidence, life skills and a healthy lifestyle through outdoor activities, challenges, interaction with other young people and a mentor. 

“We take up a lot of kids from the Graeme Foundation at a discounted rate,” says Tristan.

“That's a great thing,” says Maria. “Imagine doing a skydive when you're young with your friends. It makes your friendship stronger.”

The other Foundation scheme is Drop for Youth, an annual fundraiser helping young people overcome life’s obstacles.

But Maria and Jerry-Lee were dealing with their own obstacles.

“I was acting in the hangar with the (skydiver) outfit on, playing dress-ups, getting ready to go on stage and then when they said, ‘okay, it's time’. It all got real, I tell you.”

“When the plane takes off, you get a bit of a buzz. Then as you get higher and higher, and think about hopping out of the plane, it's just next-level scary.”

Maria Moore (bottom) and Skydive Tauranga instructor (top). Photo supplied.

Then the moment of reckoning. “You've got to jump out. The moment of horror, what am I doing?

She couldn’t pull out. “I had all these sponsors, and I'm doing this brave thing for youth, so I had woman up big time.”

“Then you jump and fall and you're terrified.” Then she opened her arms. It felt like she was flying.

“Then the tandem master pulled the ripcord and we drifted around. It was so peaceful. The clouds are beautiful, they make you think of a beautiful pillow.”

Back on terra firma Maria is encouraging others to skydive for the Graeme Dingle Foundation. She had ensured some medical issues, and after recovering thought she had to do what she could to really enjoy life. “And putting in my ten cents to contribute to a positive society.”

Considerably more than ten cents.

“I walked around hundreds of businesses to fundraise,” says Maria. In the end Maria and Jerry-Lee raised $2000.