Debbie Hollister, from Wash Common, jumps out of plane at 10,000 feet for MS Society

A woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) has jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet for charity, writes Martha White.

Debbie Hollister, 57, took the daring leap at the Old Sarum Airfield near Salisbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday.

Mrs Hollister, from Wash Common, had wanted to do it in her 20s but “life got in the way’’ so she decided to take the leap now instead.

She raised nearly £1,800 for the MS Society which she said “is a charity close to my heart’’.

Mrs Hollister was diagnosed with MS – a disease effecting the brain and spinal cord – four years ago and wanted to raise awareness as she felt that ‘’MS isn’t visible and people don’t realise how much it affects you or what you’re going through”.

She runs Race for Life for charity every year and decided to skydive this time instead.

She described her emotions prior to the skydive: ‘’I was very nervous but I also felt quite excited.

“There was quite a lot of waiting around and I just wanted to get it done.’’

She said: “I am proud that I have raised money for MS and I feel a sense of achievement.’

She also said she felt like she had “battled a fear’’.

Mrs Hollister says she doesn’t let her MS stop her from achieving anything that she wants to.

“At the moment I’ve been left with numb feet and I am a bit wobbly but I’ve just got used to it over the years,” she said.

The skydive also helped her to learn new things about herself and she said “it taught me that I am stronger than I think I am and now I am rebelling against my old age”.

To donate to her cause, go to her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/debbie-hollister-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Mrs Hollister recommends people take the leap just like her – “it was an amazing experience and if it’s something that you’ve always wanted to do then do it”.