HIGH-flying grandmother, Ann Jenkinson was determined to do something different for her 50th birthday - and she did just that, by parachuting from 11,000 feet!

Ann, from Thatto Heath, who teaches ballroom and sequence dancing at a number of venues in Haydock and Moss Bank, decided to raise money for the Macmillan Nurse Appeal in memnory of her father who died from cancer a few years ago.

Last year she and some of her dance students raised £3,000 making and selling ornaments. But for her milestone 50th birthday, the mum-of-five, who also has four grandchildren, decided to do something a little bit out of the ordinary - a sponsored tandem skydive!

Ann told the Star: "Ever since I lost my dad I had been promising myself that I would do something special for my 50th birthday. As I'd always fancied having a go at skydiving I decided to take the bull by the horns."

And her leap into the unknown raised a bumper £1,400 through sponsorship which she has now presented to the Macmillan Appeal Fund. Added Ann: "I was delighted with the amount raised and I would like to thank all the sponsors and all my close friends for supporting me - a couple of them have raised almost £3,000 themselves for local cancer charities and one friend in particular has been a great inspiration to me."

Sylvia Lewis of Macmillan Cancer Relief, commented: "I am completely overwhelmed by this lady. She has done some tremendous things for the Macmillan Fund and we are very grateful for all her efforts.

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