A Borehamwood woman will be jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet this weekend in memory of a family friend who died from cancer.

Annelise Levy, 29, of Theobald Street, has organised the charity sky dive to celebrate her 30th birthday next month and to raise money for the Elaine Hersheson Memorial Fund and national charity Ovarian Cancer Action.

Miss Levy persuaded several friends and family members to sign up for the tandem sky dive and now has 15 people taking part on Sunday.

Each fundraiser was asked to raise a minimum of £500 for sponsorship and to cover costs, although many are paying the £200 cost of the jump themselves. Collectively they are hoping to raise a total of around £15,000 for the charities.

Miss Levy said: "I'm completely blown away by all the support we've received, it's surpassed anything I could have imagined. The amount of money we've raised is incredible and we still have another five days to collect donations.

"As for the sky dive itself, I'm a little nervous but I've heard it's an amazing experience, and I'm thrilled with all the money raised - Elaine would be over the moon."

Miss Levy's mother, Davina Levy, was a close friend of Elaine, who lived in Shenley and taught at Gilah Nursery School in Borehamwood.

She died from ovarian cancer in September 2005 and is survived by her three children, mother and brother.

While she was ill, Elaine raised money for ovarian cancer and breast cancer by organising various events and charity walks.

Her family and friends set up the memorial fund in her name to raise awareness of the disease and to gather funds for research and equipment.

The jump will take place on Sunday at the Hinton Sky Dive Centre in Northampton.

To sponsor Annelise visit www.justgiving.com/annieskydive, or to donate directly to the fund send a cheque payable to the Elaine Hersheson Memorial Fund' to 82 Theobald Street, Borehamwood, Herts, WD6 4SU.