A BROTHER who promised his sister before she died that he would raise money for poorly children has taken to the skies for a charity skydive.

David Simms, from Bicester, pledged to 'jump for Joy' in memory of his sister Joy Georgeson, 67, who passed away from cancer in June.

It was her last request that any fundraising was to support children with the disease or with severe disabilities.

So Mr Simms and his friend Merche Avila Caballero threw themselves from a plane thousands of feet up on Wednesday, August 16, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

He said: "I saw Joy a week before she died and I mentioned about wanting to do a skydive and asked what causes I could help.

"She wanted us to do it for the children and so we started the project 'Jumping for Joy'."

Mr Simms took to the skies above Hinton Skydive Centre in Northamptonshire.

The 69-year-old said: "It was certainly an new experience.

"I used to ride race horses and it was bit like riding a novice horse hunter chase horse that you had never sat on before.

"You don't know what is going to happen but you get that very similar adrenaline rush to what I used to have 40 years ago.

"I did enjoy it though, it took us 15 minutes for the plane to get up and about four minutes to come back down.

"It was so lovely to have my children and grandchildren turn up, there was quite a show of people which was lovely."

The father-of-five and grandfather-of-seven has now raised more than £400 for charity but has a target of £1,000 in mind for Macmillan Cancer Support.

He added: "I want to raise the money for the children, it is so important they get the support when faced with this awful disease."

The next fundraising stunt Mr Simms is planning with Ms Caballero is a flamenco night at the White Horse pub in Churchill Road.

It will be staged on Sunday, September 10, from 3pm and is open to everyone to come along and try learning flamenco.

Mr Simms is looking for anyone who is able to donate prizes for the dancing fundraiser and also collecting donations via text.

To donate to the cause send a text reading JFOJ98 and your donation to 70070 or visit bit.ly/2uanhal