A MOTHER and daughter pair from Bude are preparing to take a leap in order to raise money for some vital charities.

Joanne and Stacey Vanstone are set to face their fears as they take on a charity skydive later this year.

The duo, who will be flying some 15,000 feet in the air, were inspired to hold the fundraiser in memory of two men very close to them.

Jo told the Post: “My grampy, Stace's great grampy, Leighton Hockin, worked as an ambulance man for years. He was always a keen supporter of the Air Ambulance, from his time working alongside them, transporting patients, right up until he retired and regularly supported them with donations. Leighton passed away in January 2020. I wanted to do something in his memory then but COVID hit in the March so it was hard to arrange anything.”

The pair are also raising funds for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund in memory of Jo’s step father, Kieth Metherell.

Jo continued: “My step-dad, Keith Metherell, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in January 2024 and passed away at the beginning of February 2024. During that very short time, he was transferred from North Devon District Hospital to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. During the final stages of his care, he was able to use the ELF funded Family Suite, a separate ward attached to the hospital, allowing families to be together to support each other. This was invaluable at this time. We therefore wanted to support this charity as a small token of thanks for what was offered during an extremely hard time.”

Finally, the duo are also raising money for Children’s Hospice South West, a charity that Jo is no stranger to supporting.

Explaining the decision, Jo said: “Children's Hospice South West has always been a charity that I have supported. I am part of the South West Truckers and we have supported Children's Hospice South West in many ways over the years, the abseil being just one small example of this.”

With such deserving charities set to benefit from this adrenaline-fuel feat, despite the nerves, Jo is prepared to take the leap for the very first time.

“My daughter and I decided it was about time we did something to try and raise some funds for these charities,” said Jo. “Stace has skydived once before and was keen to do it again to raise money. I joked that I would do it with her and before we knew it, it was booked and in the diary.”

On May 28, they will be embarking on a different kind of adventure — one that involves a skydive from 15,000 feet.

With the skydive secured in the calendar, the pair are hoping to raise as much as possible for the three charities, having nearly hit their fundraising goal already.

To support Joanne and Stacey and find out more about their skydive, visit: www.justgiving.com/team/jostaceskydive2025