A WOMAN from Bath will take part in a tandem parachute jump at Honiton this weekend to raise money for her friend Val’s Malignant Melanoma Research Fund.

Vicky Strange and her family have known Val Bugden-Cawsey and her husband, Terry, for around five years, meeting when they were pitch neighbours at the Plymouth Sound caravan site.

Now Vicky and husband Simon, sons Jack and Tom, have a chalet at Bovisand instead, every time they come down to Plymouth, they visit Val and Terry in Launceston.

Vicky said after hearing the ‘devastating news’ that Val had been diagnosed with a rare form of malignant melanoma, she wanted to do something to fundraise.

Initially she wanted to do a ‘wing walk’, but hopes to do that next year, as she has now set her sights on taking part in the tandem parachute jump this Saturday, October 27.

Vicky said: “Val’s just an amazing person and Terry is as well. They are just special people.”

Asked if she has any nerves leading up to her fundraising challenge, Vicky added: “Everybody’s saying I’m mad! It will be absolutely fine. What could go wrong? As my children say, you could end up in a tree!

“I think sometimes you need to get off your backside and do something — she’s inspired me. She must be in horrendous pain but she’s still got that lovely big smile on her face.”

And it seems it’s not just Vicky that Val has inspired — Vicky’s eldest son Jack, 13, has said he wants to walk from the South coast of Cornwall to the North on the mining trail, which Vicky said they will look into organising once she has completed the parachute jump.

To donate to Vicky’s fundraising total for Val’s Malignant Melanoma Research Fund, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vicky1strange