TWO daring friends have teamed up to jump from a plane thousands of feet in the air for charity.

The Gazette’s Kylie Taylor has agreed to take part in the Cotswold Care Hospice’s annual parachute jump along with her friend Jessica Hendry.

She needs to raise at least £400 to take part in the jump but hopes to raise much more for the hospice, based in Minchinhampton.

Kylie, 20, is no stranger to charity work after spending a summer in Kenya two years ago voluntarily teaching at a primary school.

She said: "I am feeling very excited about the jump as it's something I have always wanted to do and I am also very eager to fundraise for Cotswold Care.

"I think it is a fantastic charity which helps so many people and it is very close to my heart as I have known people who have been cared for at the hospice."

Former Rednock School pupils Kylie and Jessica, 21, a beautician, both of Dursley, have until May to fundraise before taking the plunge and getting strapped up for their 10,000ft free fall skydive.

Kylie, who is an advertising sales executive for the Gazette, said: "At the moment I am mostly excited about starting the fundraising as May seems a long time away but it will probably come round very fast.

"It reminds me of fundraising for my Africa trip a couple of years ago which was a major success. I felt inspired to do the jump after hearing about my colleague, reporter Claire Marshall, doing it last year."

Jessica said: "When Kylie asked me if I wanted to do the skydive I jumped at the chance. I can't wait, I think it will be fun and it's nice that we are doing it together so we are there for each other on the day."

Last year the skydive raised £12,500 for the hospice and Gazette readers alone raised more than £5,500 towards the total.

Events manager at Cotswold Care Vicki Hayward said: "Skydiving is a real adventure and everyone who takes part says it is amazing. It is also a great way to raise money for Cotswold Care. All that money goes to helping people in Gloucestershire who are coming to terms with life-limiting illnesses."

To sponsor Kylie and Jessica for the skydive log on to www.justgiving.com/jessandkylie or drop in to the Gazette office to make a donation.