A mum who lost her baby to cancer is facing her fear of heights, with a sponsored skydive in memory of her son.

Sherston couple Kelly Pritchard and Darren Clark lost 18-month-old Alfie-Ray Clark in August 2012, five months after he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer.

Since then, Miss Pritchard has given birth to a daughter, Angel-Ray, named in her brother’s memory, and has pledged a year of fundraising for Bristol Children’s Hospital, which helped care for her son.

She said: “We saw a poster about the skydive in reception at the hospital when we were there and I said, ‘That looks interesting,’ and then Darren said he would do it, but I said, ‘No, not a chance.’

“But, for some reason, I have decided to try it, although I can’t even stand on a chair without feeling sick, so I am feeling nervous about it.

“The fact I don’t like heights makes it more of a challenge, so, hopefully, more people will be interesting in sponsoring us.

“I am determined I am going to do the jump. Darren is convinced I am going to chicken out, but he said I would do that before I filled in the forms and I’ve got that far.

“I’ve watched a couple of videos of people jumping out of planes and I can’t understand why anyone would want to do it, but I’m not going to chicken out.”

The money raised from the skydive, and from the numerous events Miss Pritchard is involved in for the rest of the year, will go towards the hospital’s Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal, supporting sick children and babies.

“We want to give the money to them because it is the hospital where Alfie was being treated. We want to raise as much for them as we can,” she added.

“Alfie was there for five months for treatment and the treatment was not cheap, and the nurses there are just fantastic. I have said I would like to raise £2,000, which is nothing like what they need for their equipment.”

Among the other events Miss Pritchard is taking part in is the Race 4 Life in Cirencester in July, a fishing event and an auction and raffle at the Wallace and Gromit fun day in Chippenham in August.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/kelly-pritchard5