An 80-year-old grandmother from Dumbarton leapt from a plane at 10,000 feet for charity - and would do it all over again tomorrow if she could. 

Edna MacIver, who celebrated her 80th birthday in February, was taking part in a fundraising tandem skydive for the Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) – her THIRD charity skydive. 

The pensioner headed to Strathallan Airfield in Perthshire with two workmates on May 11, where they waited for their names to be called to board the small plane to take them to the skies.

She said: It was brilliant, just as good as I remembered from my tandem skydive in 1997 and solo parachute jump in 1989.

"We had the perfect weather at Strathallan Airfield on the day and it was amazing to be at 10,000 feet gazing at the beautiful scenery from above.

“The first few seconds were in freefall, then the parachute opened and we just floated for about 10 minutes until we reached the ground. I would do it again tomorrow!” 

Edna, who works in an office in Paisley, inspired her two colleagues to join her – Jennifer Connar, 20, and Charlotte Sandison, 21. 

She added: “I spotted the appeal for people to take part in the skydive last December, and I thought about it for a few months then, around my 80th birthday, I just decided to go for it.

“People were surprised, my daughter Louisa actually said, ‘That’s the end of Granny!’ but my family was very supportive and we’ve had a great response to the fundraising for Scottish Huntington’s Association and on social media. 

“I was talking about it at work and Charlotte and Jennifer decided they would do it too, which was fantastic. 

“I didn’t know about Huntington’s disease before signing up for the skydive and after finding out how the Scottish Huntington’s Association is helping families and young people across Scotland, I was happy to give it my support.”

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Huntington’s disease is a complex genetic condition that causes changes to the thinking processes (an early onset dementia), loss of muscle control, involuntary movements, and mental illness.

People with HD may lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or make decisions and go on to need 24-hour care. 

Each child of an HD parent has a 50 per cent likelihood of inheriting the gene which leads to the disease, for which there is currently no cure.

Between the three of them, the daredevil skydivers have raised more than £2000 for SHA.

Edna said: “I know Charlotte and Jennifer were a bit nervous before the skydive but they loved it too. It was an amazing opportunity – a once-in-a-lifetime thing or, like me, you can do it a few times!” 

Linda Winters, SHA community fundraising officer, said: “It’s such a delight to meet supporters who get involved, especially with such a huge challenge as a skydive. It was a brilliant day and we cannot thank them enough for their amazing fundraising efforts. "Charlotte, Jennifer and Edna have really made a difference to families living with Huntington’s disease."

To find out more visit hdscotland.org.

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