Daring grandmother set for 'wing walk' in memory of mum

For the 58-year-old is set to take on a 'wing walk' - in which she will hold on for dear life standing on top of a vintage airplane up in the skies - to raise money for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice Appeal.

The Misterton chiropodist is doing the daring challenge in memory of her mum Nancy Wainwright who died of cancer aged 83 two years ago. Anne chose the Sheffield-based hospice, which cares for children with a shortened life expectancy, as her mum worked with youngsters during her 40 years as a teacher in Doncaster.

Anne said: "I'm not quite sure what to expect. I'm a bit nervous but also looking forward to it.

"At my mum's funeral we asked for donations instead of flowers and raised about £400 for Bluebell Wood. When we sent it off they gave us a pack that had fundraising ideas in it and I saw the wing walking option and thought I'd give it a go. My friends and family think I'm mad!"

However daring charity challenges must run in the family as her daughter Georgina, aged 30, a lecturer at High Melton College, completed a skydive for charity about 10 years ago. She raised £1500 for the neo-natal unit at Doncaster Royal Infirmary for the team who cared for her son Joshua who was born 10 weeks premature.

Anne also completed a previous fundraiser in which she rode a horse 200 miles around Yorkshire to raise about £1000 for the team at Scunthorpe Hospital which treated her for ulcerative colitis about 20 years ago.

She said: "I think everyone should do something fun for charity, you have got nothing to lose."

Anne will take to the skies strapped onto a vintage Stearman aircraft from Wickenby Aerodrome and fly high above the skies of Lincolnshire on Saturday, May 27.

She hopes to raise about £800 and is already about halfway to her target. You can donate online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Anne-Ibbitson?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Anne-Ibbitson&utm_campaign=pfp-email