Sophie is flying high after raising thousands through daring wing walk

Sophie Gibbs, 18, hopes her fundraising will help the struggling Gaddesden Place Riding for the Disabled.

She rode ponies there when she was younger and said: “They have been an inspiration to me and they are struggling with keeping their charity going. It would be a massive shame if it went.”

The self-confessed dare-devil, of Bourne End, has already done a skydive in aid of the Hospice of St Francis and, on Saturday, she took to the skies once again for a hair raising wing walk.

“It was amazing,” she said. “I could see the views across London and the Shard from up there.”

She was supported by 50 family and friends who had turned out at the Essex airfield to see her complete the feat strapped to the top wing of an authentic vintage Boeing Stearman biplane.

Sophie, a forensic science student who is heading off to London’s Southbank University in September, said: “The highly experienced pilot took me through a pulse-pounding series of thrilling aerobatic manoeuvres, including low-level fly pasts and a heart stopping 500ft dive.”

Gaddesden Place is a dedicated centre giving adults and children with special needs and disabilities the opportunity to ride and have fun.

It helps them with balance and co-ordination and means they get to learn a new skill while increasing their self-confidence and enjoying a new social experience.

So far Sophie has raised £1,300 for the charity but she hopes to pull in more funds through her Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/sophie-gibbs1

Karen Gosen from Gaddesden Place Riding for the Disabled said: “We are very grateful to Sophie for undertaking this personal challenge and raising such a significant amount. This will make a real difference to our fundraising and help us to continue to give children and adults with special needs and disabilities the opportunity to ride and have fun”

To find out more about the charity visit www.gaddesdenplacerda.org.uk