A CALNE girl is preparing to take the plunge in a skydive for a military charity, with a famous face joining her.

Paris Nevin, 17, of Calne, is preparing to skydive out of a 10,000ft high plane to mark the launch of Stand Down, a new, independent military charity that offers psychological support to servicemen and women, set up in memory of her uncle Anthony Jeng.

Paris said: “Words cannot explain how terrified I am about jumping out of a plane, but I’m determined to do it for my uncle Tony and for everyone else who suffers in silence from mental health conditions as a result of military combat.”

Paris will not be facing the challenge alone as she will be joined for a double jump by Keavy Lynch, a member of the pop group B*Witched, who is the official patron of Stand Down. The pair will be jumping on January 30 at Netheravon Airfield, to mark the founding of the charity.

Kyna Jeng, Paris’ mother and CEO of Stand Down, says: “I’m very proud of my brave daughter for coming up with the idea of a skydive and volunteering herself to commemorate the launch of Stand Down. She was always teased by my brother Tony that she could not be a real Jeng until she had done a skydive as everyone in the family has, so it’s a really thoughtful and sweet thing to do in his memory.”

Stand Down aims to provide psychological help and support to active members and veterans of the British Armed Forces who suffer from mental health trauma as a result of military combat.

The charity was set up by Mrs Jeng, 37, who said: “My brother suffered from trauma and found it difficult to ask for help, like many in the services do. I saw the struggle that his family went through, his wife looked for support but was unable to access it. I felt like something needed to be done. We received registration in April 2015, just four months after writing up our constitution.”

Stand Down offers regular weekly online counselling sessions to any service user and any dependant that is in need of support. The charity’s aim is to offer a service to members and their families, regardless of age or location, and is free of charge to make its services easily accessible.

With the jump drawing ever closer for Paris, tensions are reasonably high.

Mrs Jeng added: “I don’t know who is more nervous, me or Paris. Her uncle always teased her that she wouldn’t go through with it. I think the saving grace is that her grandad is going to be there with her.”

To donate to Stand Down you can visit the webpage at www.standdowncharity.co.uk