AN ADVENTUROUS 75 year-old woman is skydiving to raise money for a charity's diamond anniversary.

Nanette Smithers lives in Wyke Regis and is hoping to raise £400 for Diverse Abilities at their anniversary skydiving event in Salisbury by jumping from an aeroplane at 10,000ft on June 14.

She said: “My daughter, Sharon, has done one, well if she can do it, I certainly can.”

This is not a one-off dare-devil experience for Nanette who has been paragliding in New Zealand, jet skiing in Poole and water skiing in Malta.

The charity, Diverse Abilities is the only charity that supports children and adults with a range of learning disabilities and their families in Dorset, something Nanette has experienced after her late husband had a fall and experienced a bleed on the brain.

James had to have two operations at Southampton General to stop the bleeding, however according to his wife he was never the same again, he would be confused and lose his balance easily.

Nanette, who was married to her husband James for 24 years said: “It was terrible seeing a man so full of life not knowing how to drive or have the courage to step in the bottom step to a ladder.”

James was a driver for Weymouth Minibus Travel, but after his operations, the business had to be sold and James spent three years being cared for by Greenwood Centre for Independent Living

The centre in Dorchester supports adults of all ages and disabilities as well as their careers and families by offering advice on how to manage conditions and help them on the road to recovery.

Nanette said: “Although he was never 100 percent I don’t know how we would have managed without Greenwood.

“They were absolutely brilliant with him, the patience they had with him was unbelievable.

She added: “Greenwood would help him to cook, do the garden and do creative things with his hands. He was there for three years they were very good and helped James.”

James’ health did improve over the years and he started to get his independence back but sadly he passed away in February last year after doctors found two tumours on his liver. He was given only six weeks to live.

Nanette said that she knew her late husband would have approved of her work to help charities for the disabled.

You can support Nanette as she ticks off the experience from her bucket list and sponsor her at justgiving.co.uk/nanette-smithers