AN EAST Lancashire police officer is set to conquer her fear of heights and jump from a plane to raise money for an independent charity which provides psychological help for military personnel and their families.

PC Lauren Charles, 29, almost lost her Marine husband Jason in an IED explosion in 2007 in Afghanistan which left him needing reconstructive surgery on his face and arms.

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PC Charles said her husband is still suffering from the mental effects of the trauma and wanted to conquer her own fears to raise money and awareness of the newly-formed Stand Down charity.

PC Charles, who is a response officer based in Blackburn but has taken a career break to look after her two young children, said: “I am not overly keen on heights and I am absolutely petrified of the sensation of falling.

“But I wanted to do something to raise the profile of Stand Down which is offering support and help to people who really need it.

“I don’t think it has quite sunk in and I am absolutely nervous of jumping out of a plan at 13,500 feet.

“But it is for such a good cause and if I can do something like this to raise funds and awareness then I think that is absolutely amazing.”

PC Charles said she had originally set a fundraising target of £500, which she has passed, and appealed for anyone who could spare some money to help her raise as much as possible.

Mr Charles said: “I am really proud of her.

“For someone who says she is afraid of heights to jump out of a plane just shows what a wonderful and caring person she is.”

PC Charles and Mr Charles live with their two children, Jack, two, and Amelia, four, on Bovington Garrison in Dorset. They have a house in Euxton.

Stand Down is a new independent military charity to provide online psychological help and support to active duty personnel and their families, as well as veterans.

PC Charles will be doing the fandom parachute jump on August 27.

To sponsor her, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/laurencharles1.