Prince Harry recently completed a charity skydive, fulfilling a bet made a year prior with 102-year-old WWII veteran Ed Marshall. The Duke of Sussex met Marshall, a former paratrooper, during a visit to the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Canada.
Marshall, who had completed a charity jump himself at age 100, inspired Prince Harry to plan a jump together. Though Marshall was unable to participate in the jump for medical reasons, his grandson, Bailey Fullan, took his place. Marshall was present, cheering on the participants from the skydive plane.
The event, which took place on September 25, was documented in a video released by The Sunnybrook Foundation. Prince Harry, who has a decade of service in the British Army including tours in Afghanistan, jumped alongside Bailey Fullan, Canadian Armed Forces Veteran Jeremy Blair, and Sunnybrook’s President and CEO, Dr. Andy Smith. After landing, the group shared embraces.
"A huge, huge thanks to Sunnybrook for putting this whole event on, and the biggest thanks goes to Ed and his entire family for making this possible," Prince Harry stated after the jump. He added jokingly, "I will be more cautious next time not to pay too much attention to a photograph that leads you to making a deal or a bet with a 102-year-old! Cheers Sunnybrook!"
Bailey Fullan expressed his excitement about the experience, stating, "Amazing to be up there with the Prince - what a prince of a guy - it was a fantastic experience! And such a great way to support our veterans, so I'm proud of that."
The Sunnybrook Foundation highlighted the event on their website, noting, "What began as a conversation between two Veterans became a promise kept." The jump served as a meaningful way to support the Sunnybrook Foundation and the True Patriot Love Foundation, organizations dedicated to serving Canada’s military and Veteran communities.