BEING confined to a hospital bed has not stopped plucky Jo King from raising money for charity.

The dedicated 34-year-old, who suffers from the

chronic and incurable disease lupus, has turned her bed at Southampton General Hospital into a mini-office.

Jo, from Eastleigh, had been organising a sponsored skydive taking place tomorrow in aid of the Lupus UK charity.

When her condition deteriorated a few weeks ago, she was admitted to hospital for a barrage of tests.

But instead of pulling the plug on her fundraising, the residential social worker was adamant that the show would go on.

Tomorrow, her friend and former colleague Andy Beard, from Chandler's Ford, will take part in a tandem skydive to help lupus sufferers like Jo.

Her husband, Russell, told the Daily Echo: "Jo is still focussed on making the skydive a success.

"She has a team of family, friends and colleagues who are, under her guidance, continuing to raise money for the charity while she is resident with the medical experts.

"Her bed at the hospital looks more like an office as she continues pursuing support for the campaign.

"She is committed to reducing the suffering of those who have the illness and those who have it but don't know they have it - so they can get correctly diagnosed and treated before it is too late."

Jo was diagnosed with lupus in 1996. She had suffered with it for nine years but doctors thought it was arthritis.

The illness sends the immune system into overdrive, causing inflammation, pain and possible organ damage.

Russell has set up a website at www.lupushelp.co.uk to provide information about the skydive.

Anyone wanting to make a donation can e-mail sponsor@lupushelp.co.uk