ON August 10 this year, Sophie Worlock and Phil Evans, of St. Florence, will step out of a plane and plummet almost two miles to help children with leukaemia in their fight for life.

Sophie and Phil, both students, will do a tandem free fall parachute jump from over 10,000 feet to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust. They will fall for over 20 seconds reaching speeds of almost 120 miles per hour before their parachutes open.

Philip said: "I've always wanted to do a parachute jump ever since my parents did theirs for charity."

Sophie joined the bone marrow register in Oxford where she is studying nursing. She found out about the sponsored jump in the Trust newspaper and saw it as the perfect opportunity to fulfil something she has always wanted to do and also to raise money for a good cause.

It will take the pair 20 nerve racking minutes to reach 10,000 feet. Once they reach the target height they will be accompanied by an experienced instructor throughout his jump.

The Anthony Nolan Trust has over 317,000 volunteers on the bone marrow register. However, there are over 5,000 patients for whom a donor has yet to be found. To add just one person to the bone marrow register costs the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust £50. The charity receives no Government or Lottery funding whatsoever, and relies on fund-raising events and the generosity of the public to raise the vital funds required for the Trust to continue with its life-saving work.

Nia Chadwick, area manager for the Trust in South Wales, said: "Both solo and tandem free fall parachute jumps can be done in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust throughout the year. We also do abseils, white water rafting, dragon boat racing to quad biking and go-karting; there really is an event to suit all tastes."

If a parachute jump is something you've always wanted to do, but have never got around to, ring the Anthony Nolan Trust on (01423) 879510 for more details, or email [email protected]">[email protected]