A HAIRDRESSER who jumped off a plane at 13,000ft in memory of a family friend handed over a cheque today (Tuesday) for thousands of pounds.

Becky Saunders, of Eastern Way in Letchworth GC, talked herself into doing a skydive and decided to attempt the feat in honour of Stotfold resident Dave Gray, who died of an asbestos-related cancer last year.

The 59-year-old, who owned Grays Dry Lining in Letchworth GC with his wife Lynda, contracted the disease during his career in the building trade.

Stylist Becky, who has worked in the town at Talents for eight years, used to cut Dave’s hair at the Eastcheap salon and pledged to raise funds for Garden House Hospice, where he was cared for before his death.

Following the dive in March, Cambridgeshire, in September, Becky presented the Letchworth GC hospice, which cares for terminally ill patients, with a cheque for �3,100 today.

“I’ve got the gift of the gab and I said to my friend I could throw myself off a plane, so she said ‘do it then’. Then I said I’d do it for charity and I wanted to do it in memory of Dave,” said the 23-year-old, whose 8,000ft freefall was watched by family and friends, including Lynda.

“On the way up there I was just thinking ‘oh my God, what the hell am I doing’. I was more scared of flying so I was quite glad to jump off it to be honest!” said Becky.

Initially Becky had set herself a fundraising target of �1,000 but said she was overwhelmed with the generosity of family, friends and clients at Talents to reach her final total.