TWO fearless women from Herefordshire whose families have been affected by heart conditions took a daring leap from the sky to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Grandmother Penny Morpeth and 23-year-old Eleanor Dobson both leapt 12,000 feet out of a plane in a charity tandem skydive.

They raised more than £800, which will fund life-saving research into heart and circulatory conditions.

Penny, from Luston, was inspired to organise the fundraiser after a recent milestone birthday.

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-one said: “I’ve always wanted to do it, so when I turned 70 in March last year I thought right, now is my chance.

“My cousin, Malcolm Trumper, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2002 and later required a heart transplant.

“The skydive went well and I loved every minute of it. I’m delighted at how much we have raised.”

Eleanor, a visitor experience assistant at the National Trust, was inspired to take part after her father, Nicholas, 58, required a quadruple bypass following a heart attack in 2017.

Eleanor, from Ross-on-Wye, said: “Dad has always been fit and healthy and he cycles long distances every day. He was in the US when he had the heart attack and it came as a complete shock. He received a quadruple heart bypass while in America, and since returning home, he has continued to stay fit and is living a relatively normal life.

“The skydive was the best experience of my life so far.”

The BHF funds research into all heart and circulatory conditions, including heart diseases, stroke and vascular dementia, along with risk factors including diabetes.

In Herefordshire, there are around 24,000 people living with heart and circulatory conditions, with around 600 people losing dying every year.

The skydive was sponsored by AMDS Consultants Ltd, a local consultancy specialising in transport, information security and programme management.

Anyone interested in fundraising can call 07388 945024 or email robinsonka@bhf.org.uk

Visit www.bhf.org.uk/yourway