A FUNDRAISER is preparing to tackle a life-long fear in a bid to raise thousands of pounds to help the desperate survivors of the tsunami disaster rebuild their lives.

Dean Etheridge, 24, has pledged to do a parachute jump from 13,000 feet, despite his fear of heights.

Mr Etheridge, of Deep Lane, Brookvale, Basingstoke, decided to do the daredevil challenge with his friend Mike Hilton, of Kempshott Rise, Hatch Warren, after seeing the devastating images of the countries.

"As soon as I heard about it on the news, I thought 'that is terrible'," said Mr Etheridge, a senior sorting advisor at First Index Ltd.

"I wanted to help and thought I can't just keep chucking pound coins into a box. I have to do something more to help these people.

"I had planned to do a parachute jump this year for the National Blind Association, because it is a charity I support. So, I thought 'why not do the jump to help raise money for these people instead?'

"I am scared of heights. When I am up there I will be scared and nervous and thinking 'oh my God, what am I doing?' - but I will do it."

Mr Hilton, 25, added: "Dean phoned me up and suggested the jump to me and I didn't even have to think about it, I just said 'yes' straight away.

"I have never done anything like this before.

"When you see the images on the television, you feel like you want to do something to help.

"I have given money to collections, but I wanted to feel that I was putting some effort into something to help these people, and doing the parachute jump is the method that I picked."

The duo need to raise £380 each to be able to do the challenge - but they want to raise much more in a bid to give a real boost to the appeal.

Mr Etheridge and Mr Hilton have been sponsored to do the jump by their respective employers, First Index Ltd and Right on the Line, a design firm based in Bramley.

This means that all donations will go straight to helping the survivors of the tsunami.

Four of the pair's friends - Ed Hopkins, of Downsland Road, Brookvale, Steve Clark, of Deep Lane, Brookvale, Ollie Morecombe, of Stukeley Road, Brookvale, and Ben Drury, of Devonshire Place, Kings Furlong - have also pledged to take part if enough sponsorship can be raised to pay for the cost of the jump.

Mr Etheridge added: "I spoke to them all and they are up for it.

"They are going to get their individual sponsorship for the jump and then we will raise the money for the appeal together as a group."

The friends are hoping to raise at least £5,000 for the tsunami appeal through the challenge.

Mr Hilton said: "I am going to try to get as much as possible, and I know Dean is trying to get a lot of money.

"Hopefully, between us, we will make a hell of a lot of money and make some kind of difference to the lives of the people out there."

Before the jump - which is planned for May or June this year - the group will have to undertake a form of training to prepare them for the challenge.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the group can contact Mr Etheridge on 07968 128102.

If you are planning a fundraising event, let The Gazette know and we will publicise it for you.

You can contact the newsdesk on 01256 337444 or by e-mailing newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk