Dr John Sentamu will hurl himself from a plane at 12,500ft with the Parachute Regiment 'Red Devils' display team from RAF Langer near Nottingham in six weeks time on 27 May 2008.
The Archbishop is urging the public to sponsor him to complete the daring parachute jump to generate funds for the Afghanistan Trust - a charity formed in 2007 to help support soldiers and their families who have served with 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan, and who have been wounded or killed as a consequence.
"The armed services and their families in this country make enormous sacrifices on our behalf," the Archbishop said. "There are regiments in Yorkshire and across the country who are making a huge contribution in helping to rebuild Afghanistan and to defeat the Taliban."
"Unfortunately many of the families who have lost loved ones in the conflict are not being given enough financial support, and for those who return home as wounded heroes, the support can be a long time coming and then not nearly enough."
Dr Sentamu will jump in tandem with businessman Guy Brudenell, who brought the plight of bereaved families to his attention at a special dinner.
The Archbishop continued: "My prayers have been with the brave men and women who do this dangerous but vital work in our name. But I also wanted to do something more to help their plight.
