A WOMAN is set to celebrate her 85th birthday from the air as she takes on a charity skydive.

Grania Joinson, who lives in Malvern, will take to the skies on Saturday, June 8, to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice.

The challenge will see her jump from 10,000 feet strapped to a qualified tandem instructor, and reaching speeds of up to 120 mph, before being guided to the ground.

She said: “I have always wanted to do a skydive, but I have never known how to go about it.”

But after learning the Worcester-based hospice was inviting people to sign up to a skydive, Mrs Joinson decided to take the opportunity to fulfil her long-held ambition.

And rather than feeling nervous, she is looking forward to experiencing the country from a different perspective.

She said: “What it boils down to is you have got to think about why you want to do it, which is to see the country from a bird’s eye view.”

The skydive will take place at Hinton Airfield, Northamptonshire, and Mrs Joinson will be joined by 13 others skydiving for St Richard’s.

“I think hospices up and down the country do brilliant work,” added Mrs Joinson, who has already raised more than £500 for the hospice.

To support Mrs Joinson’s fundraising, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/grania-joinson

The hospice is already planning its next skydive challenge, which will take place on Sunday, September 8. To sign up, visit strichards.org.uk/september-skydive.

St Richard’s relies on donations for 75 per cent of its annual £8.8m income.