A PENSIONER with multiple sclerosis will hit the heights for two causes close to his heart next week.

Ian Tighe-Ford is set to perform a wing walk to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Cancer Research UK.

The 76-year-old from Royal Wootton Bassett told the Adver: “A good friend of mine died of leukaemia a while back and we lost two dogs within five weeks of each other because of cancer.

“Various friends and relations have had cancer or died from it and it seems this is something I can do to help further research. It’s something very important to me.”

Ian has been helped by neighbours and friends in raising £1,400, which will be split between the charities.

On the day he will be strapped in a chair on top of the planes’s wing before taking off.

But he needed to persuade his wife of 49 years, Chris, that it was a good idea.

He said: “My wife wasn’t very keen to start with because there is an element of risk, but she’s now excited and she’s been very good and supportive.”

Ian has a reputation as a bit of a daredevil and has previously braved a skydive.

He added: “I have done a skydive in the past but the wing walk seems more exciting. I’m 76 and I’ve got MS, which I think makes it a bit more unusual.”

MS is a chronic disease that causes damage to the nerves in the brain and spine, causing numbness, impairment of coordination and speech.

Ian's medical condition meant he needed to have a practice run to make sure he could get into the seat on top of the wing of the plane.

He said: “I’m a bit nervous because I have MS and the challenge is getting on the top wing. But I got there in the end during the practice for it.

“I had a great sense of achievement and morale because MS is obviously not great fun but I proved that I could do it.”

This stunt is going to be quite exciting for Ian after he was forced to stop doing some of the things he enjoyed in life.

He said: “I had to stop driving because I also have glaucoma so I lost some of my vision. I miss driving and it has been 11 years.”

Ian will be completing the wing walk at the Rendcomb Airfield on September 24 at 1.30pm.