A BISHOPS Lydeard girl will plunge 15,000ft from a plane to raise cash for children in Africa.

Bethan Crisp, who visited Tanzania as part of her gap year before attending Brunel University, was inspired after her trip to Nkoaranga orphanage.

The former Kingsmead Community School student was only meant to be in Tanzania for three months, but she ended up staying for ten teaching English to children.

The aim of the dive is to raise money for 'Project Education,' set up by The Small Things, in the hope of raising funds for the childrens' education.

Children stay at the orphanage until aged five, but then they require sponsors to send them to quality boarding schools at around £700 each.

Bethan, 19, and fellow volunteers have already raised enough to send three children to school in January.

“My adventure led me to the amazing children of Nkoaranga Orphanage, which hold my happiest memories of Africa,” she said.

“Whilst I can't be there with them at all times, I knew that I would try and help back here in England. So I decided to organise a sponsored skydive!

“Willingly jumping out of a plane may sound pretty extreme, but the children make the fear, the adrenaline and the challenge, totally worth it.”

The dive is on December 3, 8.30am at Chatteris Airfield in Cambridgeshire, North London.

For more information or to contribute, visit The Small Things at www.thesmallthings.org.