A pair of close friends who are skydiving for St Francis Hospice are competing with each other to raise the most money.

Sarah Landragin, 24, has challenged pal Michael Slavin, 21, to beat her current fundraising total of �870.

Sarah, from Gallows Corner, was bitten by the fundraising bug since visiting the hospice in Havering-atte-Bower.

“My neighbour was a patient at the hospice,” she said. “All she ever said was that the care given to her was fantastic. I thought if I was in that position I’d lock myself away, I’d be scared.

“But then when I visited the hospice I realised it wasn’t scary at all, it was bright, airy and a positive place.”

Sarah decided to test her fear of heights and sign up to the skydive on June 12, and has since been busily fundraising in her office, asking staff to donate �1 on their dress down day, and organising raffles.

She managed to convince Michael to sign up to the skydive, and then challenged him to beat her fundraising total.

Michael said: “Hopefully I can beat what Sarah has raised but she did get a bit of a head start – I’m optimistic though!”

There are still skydiving spaces available.

n Call the fundraising department on: 01708 771427 or visit: www.sfh.org.uk for more information.