Kamikaze gran has a head for heights

Lorraine Watson, who will turn 70 next year, has supported the charity Shine for almost 50 years as her son, Andrew, was born with spina bifida.

Andrew, who died as a teenager 33 years ago, loved the idea of his mum doing a skydive but Lorraine never got the chance.

She said: “When you have a child with a disability, you think you’re on your own. But Shine brings people together and our whole family benefited – including Andrew himself.

“Everyone thinks I’m mad. I’m not at all nervous and at the moment I feel really excited. I’ve had nearly all my joints replaced now, and I had to have the skydive signed off by my doctor, so I’m just going to go for it! I just hope I can raise my target of £1,000 for such a worthwhile cause.” Visit justgiving.com/Lorraine-Watson1 to sponsor her.