SKY-DIVING managing director Gene Whewell is getting set to take the plunge for Bury Hospice at the grand old age of 70.

Gene, who owns and runs Whewell Chemical Manufacturers, off Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, is preparing for a tandem dive from a plane 10,000 ft above the Shropshire countryside.

When she heard that her daughter's friend was going parachuting, Gene was inspired and leapt into action, contacting various parachute clubs to arrange a jump of her own.

Gene, of Woodhey Road, Holcombe Brook, said: "Some of them will only take you if you're under 40 years of age, but I did manage to find one which would take me if I produced a doctor's certificate.

"Everyone is telling me that I'm mad, but I've been wanting to do it for a long time."

Already sponsored by employees, friends and business contacts, Gene still hopes for more support ahead of the jump in July.

And she aims to be in one piece when she reaches the ground: "I'll be jumping with someone else so I can't come to much harm as long as whoever I'm with likes me!" added Gene.

"You can't give up when you get to my age, you've got to do something different. If I don't do it now, I never will."

Those wishing to sponsor Gene can ring the firm on 796 6333.