South Staffs Water employee Martin Vickers has taken the plunge - from 13,000ft - to raise money for Beating Bowel Cancer.

Martin, from Burton on Trent, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2009 and after chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two operations was fortunately able to beat the disease. He has been raising money and awareness for the charity ever since.

He hopes his parachute jump – which he undertook with his 17 year old son, Ben, will net him another £1000 for the charity. This will bring the amount he has raised so far to more than £18,000.

Martin said: “The first time I did a parachute jump, people asked me why I wanted to jump out of a perfectly serviceable plane. I got the five year “all clear” from the oncologist in 2014.  When I got home I looked at my emails and the first one I saw was from beating Bowel Cancer about the skydive event. It was three days before my 50^th birthday, so I decided I’d do it.

“It was the most amazing and thrilling experience so when I got the opportunity to do it again this year, I quite literally leapt at the chance. My son Ben also enjoyed it, but his words afterwards were ‘never again!’”

Martin, who works as head of capital investment delivery for South Staffs Water has undertaken many, many fundraising events for the charity, often with the support of colleagues. These have ranged from bag packing at Morrison’s supermarket and organising charity cake sales, to taking part in Decembeard and assisting in the Coast to Coast bike ride.

Last year he picked up an achievement award from the charity’s patron Dame Floella Benjamin in recognition for his fundraising and awareness raising.

He added: “I visited my GP five times in nine months suffering from extreme tiredness and looser stools before finally being referred to the hospital for tests. Therefore raising awareness of the disease and its symptoms is very important to me as I knew nothing of the disease prior to my diagnosis.

“Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer. Each year more than 41,000 people are diagnosed, but if caught early, more than 90% of cases can be treated successfully.

“If you do have concerns please do speak to your doctor or visit beatingbowelcancer.org for more information.”

Martin is still raising money for the charity. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Martin-Vickers6