An adrenaline-seeking student says she is “thrilled” to be taking part in a sky dive to help young cancer patients enjoy their childhood.

Ellen Macdonald, a student at St Dominic’s Sixth Form College, off Mount Park Road, has been selected as one of 15 young people to take part in a charity sky dive to mark the 15th anniversary of the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Each of the jumpers have been asked to raise a minimum of £200 for a different youth charity of their choice.

Ellen, who is 18-years-old and has just finished her Year 13 exams, said: “I chose to raise money for Youth Cancer Trust because I think their work is incredible.

“Normally people pick charities for sick children, but this charity takes them away from all that and gives them a chance to forget.

“They provide fun activities for young people with illnesses, to allow them to take their minds away from reality, and to enjoy their childhood - something I found very overwhelming.”

The history, politics and religious studies student – who hopes to study nursing at the University of Nottingham this September – has spent the last few months fundraising ahead of the big day by undertaking different sporting feats including running, cycling and swimming challenges.

She said she was “thrilled” to have been selected for the dive, adding: “I’ve applied for Jack Petchey fundraisers before but never got them, so I was so happy when I got accepted this time.

“My older brother has always wanted to do a sky dive, so he is really jealous that I’m going to do doing it before him.

“I wasn’t nervous beforehand, but now my friends keep asking if I really want to do this so I’m getting a lot more worried now.

“I want to do a bungee jump next. Doing things like that are really important to help challenge yourself.”

The jump will take place at the North London Skydiving Centre at Chatteris Airfield, in Cambridgeshire, on July 29, where Ellen will join a number of other fundraisers to complete the anniversary challenge.

Each young person will complete a tandem jump with a qualified instructor, with a staff member and a parent also participating in the sky dive.

To sponsor Ellen on her sky dive, visit www.justgiving.com/96macdonalde