A doctor’s orders following a diagnosis of high blood pressure would probably not be a skydive, but despite the medical condition (and a fear of heights), Marshall boss Daksh Gupta continues with his plans to jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet soon in aid of BEN.

Chief executive Daksh Gupta’s leap of faith - strapped to a professional skydiver in the sky above Northamptonshire - launches the Industry Leader Challenge on behalf of BEN.

As he prepares mentally for the challenge, Gupta acknowledged the support he has so far received towards helping him achieve his fundraising target of £100,000 for the sector charity, before passing on the challenge to another dealer boss, who, feeding on the highly competitive nature of the sector, should aim to raise even more money for BEN.

They will undertake a similar challenge in 2017. A second executive has volunteered to do their part in the Industry Leader Challenge, in 2017. Their name will be made public at the BEN Ball in December.

Gupta’s tandem parachute jump takes place on July 22 at Hinton Skydive Centre at 9am (weather permitting).

Gupta said: “I’m not mentally preparing for it, because I don’t want to think about it, let alone talk about it.

"Alongside the fear of heights, I have found out I have very high blood pressure. I’m on medication, but a parachute jump is far from being a sensible treatment.

"But while someone might have to push me from the plane there is no way I’m going to back out. I set myself the challenge and the cause is too important.”

He was inspired to help by former Marshall director Sarah Sillars who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for BEN in 2010, raising £38,000.

He expressed his thanks to the organisations that have donated to his cause so far (listed below).

Gupta is a longstanding supporter of BEN.

He is its vice-president and was instrumental in the founding of Dealers Backing BEN in 2010. This allows dealers to give £1 to BEN from the sale proceeds of each car sold through auction. It has so far raised £1 million.

The support comes as BEN reveals demand for its services is increasing.

In 2015/16 BEN responded to an 81% in the number of enquiries to its helpline compared to 2014/15. The total number of people BEN helped across the year is about 3,000. 

Approximately 80% of those it helps are of working age (16-65).

The companies that have sponsored Gupta so far:

Advantage Assistant
Auto Trader 
Automotive Compliance
Bistech Group
Barclays
Bridgestone UK
Brand Biology 
Carwow
Castrol 
Car Care Plan
Dentons 
Eden Motor Group 
Ebbon-Dacs
Fleet Assist
Greenwoods Solicitors
Hancock Tyres
Honda UK 
HSBC
HR Owen
James French
John Clark Motor Group 
Kwik Fit Fleet
Listers Gorup
Licience Bureau
LKQ Coatings
MADG
Manheim 
MMH
Motor Line
MotorTradeRadio.com
Motorclean 
Rapleys 
Regent Construction
Rotary Lift (UK) 
Rybrook
Santander 
Sixt Rent A Car
Sandcliffe
Specialist Cars Stoke
Sytner 
Thrifty Car & Van Rental
Volvo UK 
VWFS 
Vindis
WS Atkins 

> To donate to Gupta's 'industry leader's challenge' for BEN go to www.justgiving.com/Daksh-Gupta/

> The website for the Industry Leader Challenge: www.industryleaderchallenge.org.uk

> Learn more about BEN