CITIZEN readers Granville and Kathi Bentley have been meaning to do something to help a babies charity ever since their son was born prematurely five years ago - now they're keeping their promise in spectacular fashion.

Former soldier Granville will jump from a plane after just a few hours of training, and the money he raises from sponsorship will go to the Baby Life Support Systems (BLISS) charity, which buys equipment for special baby care units such as the one at Burnley General Hospital.

The Burnley couple, whose son, Ryan, survived thanks to the treatment he received in the special baby care unit, got the parachute-jump idea when they read a story about BLISS in the Citizen.

Kathi said: "Ryan was born almost 13 weeks prematurely, and Granville was serving with the army in Germany at the time. Ryan was fighting to survive for two-and-a-half months.

"When something like that happens you just want to say thank-you, but there are no words you can say to express how you feel. Perhaps this is a way of saying thank-you.

"We have always wanted to do something, but Granville has never done anything quite like this before. He didn't get the chance in the army, but then we saw the article about the sponsored jump in the Citizen.

"If we can raise some money which will help to buy an incubator or other piece of equipment, then that can be our way of showing our gratitude."

Granville, who works for the Royal British Legion in Burnley, does his jump on October 26. If you want to sponsor him, just call into our office (20 Keirby Walk, Burnley) and sign the form at our front counter.

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