Young soldier's charity skydive

Seventeen-year-old Joshua Jones, of Greylees, is currently nine weeks into a 49-week training course at Army Foundation College in Harrogate but is planning to do a tandem parachute jump in July for the Army Benevolent Fund.

He said: “I’m looking to raise a significant amount of money to help a big cause that has helped a lot of serving soldiers and ex-soldiers.

“This charity also helps the family that has been broken down by lost loved ones and also helps family members who are struggling.”

With his daring dive in the offing, the former St George’s Academy student says he has all his family behind him, but admitted: “Yeah, I’m scared of heights, but as I’m going for the Parachute Regiment it’s within my job role to parachute.”

After the course at Harrogate he will go on to do 
two further months training at Catterick Garrison Infantry Training Centre and then 
six weeks of gruelling 
pre-Parachute Regiment training tests known as P-Company.

Joshua is planning to contribute some of his own money and is asking for any donations to help raise at least £300 for the charity.

People can donate via his web page at: https://goo.gl/hPMySz