Thrill-seekers are preparing to plummet thousands of feet in a bid to raise hundreds of pounds for First Step.

Four fundraisers are taking on a tandem skydive in support of our Fundraise on the First campaign with the children’s charity.

The group is made up of Sion Parry, Edward Mitchell, Hannah Baglee and Chloe Rouse.

Sion and Hannah both work at insurers Grove and Dean, where Chloe’s mum is also an employee, while Edward is a supporter of the charity who has signed himself up for the adrenaline rush.

Grove and Dean, which is in the Market Place, Romford, has worked with First Step for some time, so for the employees it made sense to take on the skydive for the charity.

Sales adviser Sion, 25, said: “One of the girls I’m doing it with, her mum spoke to me about it and there was only one person doing it at the time, so I said I would.

“Three months ago, we then got one of the other girls to do it.

“I’ve always wanted to do one.”

The skydive is set to take place on August 8 in Kent and will see the fundraisers jump out of an aeroplane from 15,000ft, with an instructor.

Already the group has raised hundreds of pounds, with Sion reaching the £500 mark and the total amount collected so far sitting at more than £1,700.

With the challenge only two weeks away, the nerves are starting to kick in.

Sion, who lives in Newham, said: “I haven’t even got up there and I’m nervous.

“I’m quite excited for the fall, but I’m worried about sitting on the edge of the plane, when you’re just in the balance of doing it.

“But it’s the challenge, I’m sure I’ll survive.

“We’re all excited about it.”

Grove and Dean is a long-term supporter of First Step, in Tangemere Crescent, Hornchurch.

Every year its staff select a charity to fundraise for and the children’s charity is its cause for the next two years.

The insurer has hosted events such as a baking contest and cake sale, which raised more than £80 in April.

Sion said all staff are encouraged to get involved and help the business to collect as much money as it can for the families and youngsters helped by First Step.

She said: “First Step is a good charity to do it for, as they are a local charity to the area we work in.

“I want to help raise more money for them.

“I don’t have a target, I just want to raise as much as possible to go towards the charity.”

Sion, who has been collecting money through sponsorship forms, has just set up a JustGiving page.

You can sponsor her for the skydive by visiting justgiving.com/sion-parry2.