COMPASSIONATE care assistant Jennifer McDonell is preparing for a leap of faith to help a charity close to her heart.

Jennifer, 19, who works as a care assistant at the Stansty House Care Home, is bracing herself to do a sponsored parachute jump in aid of The Alzheimer's Society.

The charity helps provide much needed funding, care and research for people with dementia, their families and carers.

Jennifer has worked closely with patients with Alzheimer's disease on the Elderly Mentally Infirm unit in Stansty House, and believes more money is needed for research into the disease.

She said: 'Working with patients with Alzhiemer's has given me more enthusiasm to raise the money.

'There's so much we don't know about Alzhiemer's, every penny towards research really counts, and families need support to cope with relatives who have the disease.

'The more we know about Alzheimer's the better we can care for patients who have the illness.'

Fearless Jennifer has wanted to do a parachute jump since she saw someone doing a jump on television as little girl.

The daredevil will be doing her jump in the second week in August at the Parachute Centre in Tilstock, just outside Whitchurch.

She has raised £100 so far but needs a total of £385 to complete the jump, and is aiming to raise £500 in total for the charity.

If you would like to sponsor her, contact the Mail on 01978 351515 and we will forward your details to Jennifer.