A BRAVE pensioner is jumping out of a plane for charity after her daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Lesslie Young from Sorn has dedicated her life to helping those who suffer from the condition after her daughter developed the illness at just 10 months old.

The 61-year-old, now chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, will take the leap at 10,000 ft high to raise money for families like her own.

But it isn’t the first challenge that Lesslie has taken on to raise money for the 55,000 people who are living with epilepsy in Scotland.

She walked The Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness in 2010, a walk of 73 miles over five days with her husband Ian.

Now Lesslie will jump out of a plane on Sunday, July 21 in St Andrew’s and is hoping to raise £1,000 for Epilepsy Scotland.

The selfless mum has been chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland for the last 10 years and knows from personal experience the impact a diagnosis of epilepsy can have on families.

She said: “I am doing this skydive because people living with epilepsy have to face their fears on a daily basis. I wanted to support them by facing my own fears.

“At the moment, I am quite excited and looking forward to it. I’m not as nervous as you might expect me to be.

“I am very much looking forward to doing a skydive this year and can’t wait to feel the adrenaline rush of jumping out of a plane from 10,000 ft.”

Robyn Friel, head of fundraising and communications at Epilepsy Scotland said: “Lesslie is passionate about helping people who live with epilepsy.

“It is great that she is facing her fears to support people living with epilepsy in Scotland and we wish her all the best in undertaking this challenge.”

To donate to Lesslie’s skydive visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lesslie-young1.