DISABILITY proved no obstacle for one woman who undertook a charity skydive in honour of her late husband.

Julie Zerebecki, from Freshbrook, leapt from 10,000ft last week in aid of the Great Western Hospitals radiotherapy centre appeal.

The skydive was in memory of Julie’s husband, Dave, who received radiotherapy treatment for lung cancer before his death in June last year, aged 58.

The 55-year-old was diagnosed with neurological condition Multiple Sclerosis in 2010, which left her with a paralysed right leg and having to rely on a wheelchair to get out and about.

MS affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing problems with muscle movement, balance and vision.

As a result, Julie said skydiving was something she never believed was possible for her.

“Given my condition I didn’t think I could ever do it. Dave thought I was mad, but he was really supportive of what I wanted to do,” she said.

After skydive enthusiast son Shaun, 28, gifted her tickets on Christmas Day, her first without her partner of 40 years, she decided to take the leap at Redland’s Wanborough Airfield.

And Julie said she did not feel nervous before the skydive, which saw her don a special formation suit to keep her leg stable during the descent, strapped to an instructor.

“I kissed Dave’s photo before I went up in the plane. I knew he was with me during the jump,” she said.

"It felt incredible to actually do the jump, I felt like I was floating to begin with which was a lovely feeling and know that I’d achieved something I’d always wished for.

"I had all my family and friends cheering me on. My little granddaughter Nahla-Rose was there too so it made it extra special.”

Skydiving proved to be a family affair for Julie, with daughter Lucy performing the same jump the week before, with the total raised for the appeal now sitting at £1,230.

Two years ago, the mother of two fought back from a relapse which left her paralysed from the neck down. Following extensive rehabilitation at GWH she had regained movement in most parts of her body just before Dave was diagnosed with cancer.

“It seemed just as I was getting my life back together Dave was diagnosed with cancer,” she added.

“It made him feel very ill and when you’re ill the last thing you want to do is travel. It doesn’t make you feel any better and Dave felt awful. That’s why it’s so important to get this vital service here.”

Great Western Hospital hopes to raise £2.9 million in the two year-appeal to pay for a dedicated radiotherapy centre. Brighter Futures, the fundraising arm of the Great Western Hospitals NHS Trust officially launched the bid, which could see long journeys for radiotherapy become a thing of the past.

Jen Green, Head of Fundraising for Brighter Futures, said: “I would like to thank Julie for her fantastic effort and congratulate her on raising so much money for our radiotherapy fundraising appeal.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/J-ZEREBECKI