A STUDENT from Johnston has raised almost £2,000 from a skydive he did to raise money for a charity with a personal significance.

Harry Williams, 21, raised £1,950 from a 12,000 foot skydive for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, which offers subsidised screenings for cardiac conditions to people between the ages of 14 and 35.

Harry made the jump on August 20 in memory of his dad Anthony, who died in 2005 after a sudden cardiac arrest.

“I wanted to raise some money for CRY because they have done a lot for my family since he passed away,” said Harry.

The student of Forensic Investigation at the University of South Wales collected donations from friends and family, and workmates at his summer job in the Spar in Newport put out collection buckets in the store.

Harry also had a message of support from This Morning’s Phillip Schofield after the TV presenter received pictures of the skydive.

“I would just like thank everyone who donated and supported me throughout my fundraising and the efforts put in by certain people to raise the phenomenal amount I did – they know who they are,” said Harry.

For more information about Cardiac Risk in the Young visit their website c-r-y.org.uk.

The jump, which took place at Swansea airport, lasted no more than six minutes, with 45 seconds spent in freefall, and another five minutes slowly gliding towards the ground under an open parachute.

“My family thought I was mad doing it, because no-one else in our family has done anything like it before. But they were all very supportive in helping me raise money,” said Harry, adding that he is now planning to do a wing walk of a plane to raise money for a Crohn’s disease charity.