STUDENT Stephanie Jenkinson took a giant leap into the unknown to raise cash for a St Helens charity.

Stephanie, who studies at Chester University’s Warrington campus, faced her fears in completing a tandem sky-dive from 14,000-feet at the Black Knights Parachute Centre in Cockerham, Lancashire.

The 21-year-old took part in the adrenaline-filled afternoon to raise funds for charity Helen Marie Friends, set up by Marjorie and Arthur Hurst to support sick children in St Helens, after their daughter, Helen, died of a brain tumour at the age of just 12.

Stephanie said: “I think it’s great to raise money for a local cause. I’ve met Marjorie and Arthur, and they’re fantastic people, so I’ve been delighted to help.”

Stephanie, together with Lucy Jackson and Hannah Burton, made up a group of advertising students who developed the idea for a fund-raising sky-dive.

The initiative was part of a project management module in which they were asked to plan an event in aid of a good cause.

Although there was no requirement for the students to actually go through with the event, Stephanie and her group members wanted to complete the sky-dive anyway, as they thought it was a good opportunity to raise funds to help the charity.

She explained: “At first, we were thinking about planning a bungee jump, but then we saw something about doing a sky-dive for charity, and thought that was perfect.”

As well as sponsorship money, the group set up a series of fund-raising stalls on the university campus.

In total they have raised around £350.