By MIKE CAPUTO
Yet, the Salisbury resident plans to jump from more than 13,000 feet from an airplane.
Next month, Collins will take the "Leap for Life," a charity skydive to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.
"I don't like heights," he said, "which is why I chose skydiving."
Collins, 50, rationalized his decision.
"It is a challenge that will push me to the edge," he said. "Courage is like a muscle. When you exercise it, it is going to develop and grow. If you don't use it, it will atrophy."
Collins, whose wife, Kathleen, and two daughters, Lauren and Caitlyn, all attended Bowling Green and W.T. Clarke Middle Schools, is an attorney who practices in the area of nutritional supplement law and sports drug defense. He is regarded nationally as a legal authority on the non-medical use of anabolic steroids.
As a former competitive bodybuilder himself, Collins explained that the decision to combine his hobby and profession helps him not only relate to his clients more, but also enjoy his job.
Collins, a graduate of Hofstra Law School, recalled speaking to students at his alma mater last month, and encouraging them to think outside the box in all aspects of life. It appears that he has followed his own advice.
"I was able to mold my vocation and advocation," said Collins, who grew up in Mineola. "It gives me an opportunity to love what I do everyday." His practice, Collins, McDonald and Gann is also headquartered in Mineola.
Collins has also co-authored a men's diet and exercise book, due out in September, titled the "Alpha Male Challenge." The book, he said, is aimed at encouraging and motivating men to maintain a life of health and fitness despite demanding work and personal schedules.
"Getting older doesn't mean you have to lose your edge in any form," Collins said. "Attitude is a huge part of it."
This is the second book authored by Collins, who has also written "Legal Muscle," which was focused on his nutritional law profession. Collins also worked as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County for five years, is a past editor-in-chief for the "Nassau Lawyer" and has served as a mentor in a Nassau County Bar Association program at W.T. Clarke High School.
Collins said he decided to focus his charity endeavor on the American Cancer Society because of how many loved ones in his life who were affected by the illness.
One of those people was a cousin of his, a young man that Collins viewed as a mentor while growing up and succumbed to cancer in his twenties.
"There were people in my life touched by cancer who were very much into health and fitness," Collins said. "They were all very healthy, fit and doing things right. I will do whatever I can to help the American Cancer Society find a cure."
Collins will make his jump at noon on Aug. 23 in Calverton. His goal is to raise a dollar for each of the 13,500 feet he plans to jump. According to his charity Web site, as the Herald went to press, Collins has already garnered $2,930 - all of which will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
For more information or to donate, visit www.leapforlife.org.
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
