A PENSIONER is set to throw himself out of a plane at 13,000 feet, all in the name of charity.

Martin James, 76, from Grindleton, aims to raise £5,000 for the ABF The Soldier’s Charity when he attempts the parachute jump next month.

The dad-of-two and grandfather-of-three has been raising money for charity since he was 11 after being inspired by the sacrifice of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War.

His uncle Len, a sergeant sniper in the Royal West Kent Regiment, died in North Africa fighting Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps in the battle for El Alamein.

The adventurous senior citizen last year raised £3,600 by abseiling off The Big One rollercoaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and raised another £1,300 by repeating the stunt in June.

The keen angler worked as a photographer after growing up in Kent where he was adopted by his nanny following the death of both his parents in the Far East during the war.

Martin was awarded an MBE in 2012 for his charity, conservation and angling work.

He said: “I’m full of admiration for the members of the armed forces.

“I always say that if you can’t do anything for someone else then it’s a very poor world.

“I’m looking forward to the jump but I think that when I’m on the edge of the plane I will be asking myself why I’m there.

“I have raised money for charity for a long time and my family’s experience during the Second World War has something to do with that.

“The charity is very important and does vital work for soldiers and their families.

“When I’m in the plane I will be thinking of all those who have gone before me, along with those who took part in jumps during wars.”

The jump will take place on Monday, August 25, at Netheravon Airfield, Wiltshire.

For more information or to sponsor Martin visit: secure.soldierscharity.org/registrant/ Fundraising Page