“Once up there, only happiness”: to celebrate her 82nd birthday, she takes a first parachute jump

Le grand saut de Marité dans le ciel gardois. Midi Libre

La Bagnolaise Marité Jouffre, animatrice d’un club de marche et artiste amateur, a fait son baptême de parachutisme à Pujaut pour fêter ses 82 ans.

So much excitement around the Pujaut aerodrome on Friday March 22 at 11 a.m.! Marité Jouffre celebrated her 82nd birthday surrounded by her family, her friends, her walking companions from the club she has run since her retirement… hellip; A birthday that she wanted to mark but not in a traditional way: and she finally gets her wish to skydive on D-Day! Smiling, slightly stressed, Marité stamps her feet: the equipment, the detailed explanations from the parachutist, a video film to mark the event.

Her friends will say that she draws her courage from her Ardèche origins and to add to her determination to jump she explains that "her two brothers were paratroopers from profession"… So it was his turn to have his head in the clouds and feel the thrill. Marité, a retired mathematics teacher, is considered by those around her as "a daredevil, a tomboy".

Passionate about rollerblading, walking, motorbikes…

Passionate about rollerblading which she practiced for a long time, walking and motorbike riding… but not only that, because this intrepid also has the soul of a painter and regularly exhibits her creations in Bagnols-sur-Cèze. Marité is surrounded by loyal friends who support her in the accomplishment of all her dreams, even accompanying her to her native Ardèche. A friendship that she appreciates and they all agree to admit " that’she is an example of determination, enthusiasm and joy of live. His good humor and charisma bring us together around a family of heart".

Marité came back delighted with her jump. She testifies to having had "neither fear nor apprehension once up there, only happiness !". A birthday which she will remember for a long time and which marked the spirit of the entire assembly which awaited her and which welcomed her with applause of joy, huge bouquets of mimosa, but… perhaps slightly tinged with relief.