Kylie conquers fear of heights
By Daniel Knowles

Kylie Byrne is jumping out of a plane to fight cancer Picture Ref: 200978

Kylie Byrne is so scared of heights she struggles to stand on a chair to change a light bulb but she has signed up for a charity skydive.

Kylie, 34, a business analyst from West Swindon, will take to the air on May 20 to raise money for charity Cancer BACUP.

She said she would spend the next month collecting sponsorship from family and friends before the jump, which will take place over Cirencester.

"The motivation for the jump is that my friend Esther Nagle's brother died last October at the age of 30 after a short battle with cancer," she said.

"He had chemotherapy, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

"CancerBACUP provided a great deal of support and information to Richard and his wife Jill. So, along with Esther, I've decided to take up the challenge of leaping out of a plane in order to raise money for the charity which helps so many people like Richard and Jill.

"Esther and I spoke about doing something like this, and Richard gave us both the motivation.

"I'm absolutely petrified of heights, so much so that I can't even stand on a chair to change a light bulb, so it really will be a challenge and a half."

Kylie isn't the first Swindon fundraiser to take on their fears for a good cause recently.

In February, brave Liz Reed, 51, of Toothill, tackled her fish-phobia by climbing into the London Aquarium to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

She raised £1,100 in sponsorship and has supported the charity since her father, Den, died of heart disease in 2001.

"I thought people would be more likely to sponsor me if they knew I was doing something that I was truly scared of,' said Liz. "And that's fish."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Kylie's skydive can call 07877 162 766.

CancerBACUP helps more than 22,000 people a year with its national, free and confidential information service.

It can be contacted on 0808 800 1234.