A PLUCKY band of friends will plummet 10,000 feet through the air to raise money for Brighter Futures.

Fundraising events aren’t always the liveliest of affairs, but sisters Chloe and Molly Nielson and their friend Joey are testing their nerves to the limit in a skydive to bring radiotherapy treatment to the town.

Chloe Nielson wanted to raise money for the appeal in memory of her Grandfather Ian who lost his life to cancer. Chloe said: “We’ve always wanted to do a skydive and thought what better opportunity to do it to raise money for GWH’s Radiotherapy Appeal as it is something truly close to our hearts and believe it will help so many people.

“I’m not quite an adrenaline junky – I like to think I am but as time is getting closer I’m getting nervous, but I’m definitely excited also.”

The close-knit friends are set to fling themselves through the sky above Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury on June 3. Each of them is targeting a £500 haul for their troubles on their individual fundraising pages.

Chloe added: “Ian was the most incredible man all of us have ever met. Not only the best grandfather, but father, friend, colleague and family member to so many people. He was so interested and focused on everyone else’s life and put every person before himself.”

Cancer patients in Swindon currently face the burden of daily journeys to and from Churchill Hospital in Oxford to receive radiotherapy treatment, but the appeal is fast approaching its fundraising target of £2.9 million.

Swindon is one of the few parts of the country that does not have access to radiotherapy services within a 45-minute travel time. Oxford University Hospitals is investing £18 million to bring the much-needed radiotherapy facility to Swindon while Brighter Futures’ contribution will go towards the purchase of important clinical equipment within the building.

“The journeys to Oxford were difficult for him,” Chloe said. “I myself took him one day and although the journey isn’t too far from Swindon, it was for him. When arriving in Oxford it would only be a 15-minute appointment, so it really did take up his energy.”

The Brighter Futures team is hoping to reach its fundraising target this year as it encourages people across the area to chip in with donations. Later this month it will host its last in-house event of the year for the Radiotherapy Appeal at Coate Water, where parents and children will tackle a 5k run by the lakes dressed in superhero attire.

To recognise heroics of a different kind, you can support Chloe's skydive in memory of her grandfather by visiting her fundraising website: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chloe-neilson1