HARDLY any of them had ever given a second thought about plunging from an aircraft while one, 18 year-old Alex Jones, has never even flown in an airplane before.

But 13 plucky people from Malmesbury – including three local firefighters – are bracing themselves for leap of faith from several thousand feet next month to raise cash for the town’s charity HEALS.

They have signed-up for the High Street based charity’s Be A Local Hero campaign which will see them take a skydive in aid of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in and around the town.

“It’s fantastic – absolutely fantastic,” said HEALS volunteer general manager Alison Cross-Jones. “It takes an awful lot of courage to commit yourself to something like this.

“We’re really delighted that 13 local people have done so. It’s the talk of the town. I’m pretty sure none of them have ever done a skydive before. It really is commendable.”

Mrs Cross-Jones’ daughter Alex hasn’t even been on a plane before. “I’m so proud of her for doing this. It’s an amazing way to take your first ever flight.”

Alex, who is studying sport at Swindon College said: “To say I’m absolutely bricking it would be an understatement. I can’t even climb a ladder without getting a bit shaky.

“But I’m a bit of an adventurer and I’ll definitely get an adrenalin rush from the jump.”

She added: “Because of my mum I know how much HEALS does for local people who are in need, and what an important charity it is.”

Alex, like her fellow skydivers, each have to raise £350 before the end of June which includes £175 for the dive, with the remainder going to HEALS. She is currently half-way to her target.

A trio of Malmesbury firefighters - Ollie Smith, Sam Pyne and Alex Reid – are also set for the big leap and between them are in the process of raising £1,050.

Mr Smith, who will soon be retiring after 15 years as a retained fireman, said: “Before I go, I want to celebrate my time here by doing something a bit different – so I'm taking part in the skydive.

“HEALS is very important to everyone in Malmesbury, so signing up for this seemed a great idea.”

They will be raising cash by washing cars at the fire station in Gloucester Road between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, June, 27.

The HEALS Skydiving jumps are taking from Salisbury on July 12 and 19. Information on all of those taking part, and on other aspects of the Local Heroes campaign can visit the website at www.healsmalmesbury.com. The charity can also be contacted at their offices in High Street, Malmesbury, by phone at 01666 238100, or by email at heals.malmesbury@gmail.com