GAZETTE & HERALD: GAYE Richards a civil servant at RAF Lyneham is appealing for sponsorship for a parachute jump she is doing for George Mitchell, the two-year-old who has a brain tumour.

George's parents, Fraser and Sophie Mitchell also work at RAF Lyneham. After George has undergone chemotherapy they hope to send him for pioneering brain surgery in America which will cost £70,000.

Ms Richards, 48, was so touched by George's plight that she has arranged to do a parachute jump during the first week in April.

She will be doing a tandem jump from 13,000 feet with an instructor at Netheravon airfield.

Ms Richards, who lives in Chivers Road, Devizes, said: "People think I'm mad but I want to raise money for George. To raise the money to send him to America for treatment would be fantastic."

Ms Richards is also the physiotherapist for Devizes Town Football Club and sponsorship forms will be available at the club in Nursteed Road.

She has three grown up sons, and is a reservist medic in the Auxiliary Air Force. She was based in Cyprus last year treating troops who were fighting in the Gulf and ferrying them back to the UK.

She did her first parachute jump also at Netheravon, shortly after returning from Cyprus, and raised money for the RAF Benevolent Fund for injured servicemen and women.

She said: "I wanted to conquer my fear of heights. After coming back from Cyprus there was nothing that could scare me anymore so I did it.

"It was enjoyable once I was out of the plane. Getting out of the plane door was the most nerve wracking thing but the jump itself was really exhilarating."

To sponsor Ms Richards, telephone (07710) 542911.

David Hooper, a Devizes resident who also works at RAF Lyneham, who is organising an online auction of football memorabilia to raise money for George Mitchell, has been given a signed shirt by Tim Howard, the Manchester United goalkeeper.

To bid for items log on to www.bid4sport.com