Skydiving for charity: Why 3 Surrey co. employees are doing Leap of Faith
Published 12:45 pm Monday, June 29, 2026
Three employees of a Surrey-based company are set to skydive for charity on Thursday, July 9.
The annual Leap of Faith fundraiser for Cyrus Centre will involve Miles Gillespie, Maksym (Maks) Osaulenko and Eric Meyers of Companion Construction, on 66 Avenue.
“We sponsored the event last year, but this is first year we have employees jumping,” said Daniel Burslem, company owner. “It’s a cause we believe in, and we’re trying to raise $2,400.”
Held at Skydive Vancouver, Leap of Faith is Cyrus Centre’s annual tandem skydive fundraiser, now in its 17th year. Every jump is made with a certified tandem instructor, and funds raised go toward supporting Home At Last, Cyrus Centre’s transitional housing program for youth aged 16-24 in Abbotsford.
“We are jumping because no young person should have to do this alone,” says a post on Companion Construction’s fundraising page. “Every day, youth in our community face choices no one their age should have to make: stay somewhere unsafe, sleep in a car, return to an unhealthy situation.”
More details are posted on cyruscentre.com/leap-of-faith.
Gillespie is a first-time skydiver who says he’s excited about his July 9 adventure in Abbotsford.
“I’m a little nervous but I think it’ll be pretty fun. I’m happy to be involved, a cool opportunity,” said Gillespie, a site supervisor for Companion.
The company recently renovated the BC Lions training facility in Whalley.