A woman from March will face her fears when she takes part in a charity skydive next month.

Shell Rayner, 37, will take the plunge in aid of The Sick Children’s Trust.

Shell’s friend Aleisha Beaumont’s brother, Benjamin, is being treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, while his family stay close by his side at Acorn House, which is run by the charity.

Benjamin has been in hospital for two months and is on his second round of chemotherapy. The Sick Children’s Trust has provided his family with free accommodation, as well as emotional and practical support.

The family live in Pondersbridge over an hour away from the hospital, but Acorn House is just a few minutes’ walk away from Benjamin’s ward.

Shell says: “After I originally signed up for the skydive I ended up putting it off several times for different reasons but mainly because I was secretly terrified of the free fall.

“But after hearing about Benjamin and The Sick Children’s Trust I was determined to face my fears and to raise some money for a fantastic charity in the process.

“The Sick Children’s Trust is such a worthwhile cause which has really helped Aleisha and Benjamin, and their parents, Tracey and Brian. I just want to raise as much as possible to support them. I would really like to completely smash my target and I have already surpassed my first goal of £150.”

Sandra Peckham, house manager at Acorn, says “We are delighted that Shell has decided to support the work that we do. As a charity we rely on donations, so all the money raised by Shell’s terrifying challenge will help us to continue supporting families during a stressful time in their lives.

“We will definitely be thinking of Shell and will be wishing her lots of luck from the comfort of the ground.”

To support Shell go to her just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/Shell-Rayner1