FUNDRAISERS took a leap of faith when they took part in a skydive to raise money to aid the £1.2 million appeal for a scanner for the cancer unit at Bath's Royal United Hospital.

The seven did the tandem skydives from 10,000 or 15,000ft at Old Sarum Airfield, near Salisbury, in aid of the Trowbridge branch of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, raising more than £5,000 for the cause.

Undaunted by her terminal cancer, 51-year-old Melksham mum Tracey Freegard, who lost her husband to cancer 12 years ago, jumped with her 19-year-old daughter Amy. Mrs Freegard was diagnosed with breast cancer almost four years ago but it spread to her liver, bones and spine and last year she found out it was terminal.

Another duo taking on the challenge was Trowbridge brother and sister James and Samantha Coles who were jumping to mark the birthday of their grandmother, who died from cancer in 2011. Miss Coles said: “It was a very difficult time because we looked after my Nan as a family and would take it in turns to take her for treatment and appointments.

“We wanted to give something back to such a deserving charity so our mum, dad, sister and close friends have supported us with raising money for our skydive.”

Glenn Sharp, 70, a retired builder from Trowbridge, was the oldest of the team to took the plunge.

He aimed with the aim of raising £1,000 in memory of a friend who died from cancer earlier this year.

He said: “I am 70 this year and wanted to do something different. So when the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group suggested a 15,000ft sponsored skydive I jumped at the chance.”

Also taking part in the fundraising jump was learning support assistant Kim Single-Bloom, 43, of Bradford on Avon who is a learning support assistant at the town’s Christ Church Primary School.

She said: “So many people I know, including many family members and friends, have used the cancer unit and without the contributions made by BCUSG, I’m sure there wouldn’t have been so many positive recoveries.”

Michelle Brichard, aged 37, from Westbury, took part in the fundraising jump after becoming involved with the charity three years ago along with her sister, after the pair lost their father through bowel cancer 15 years previously.