IT WAS an ambition ex-soldier Andy Keenan feared would never be realised.

All the former sapper from the Royal Engineers dreamed of when he joined the Army was successfully completing his first parachute jump. On his 18th birthday that's exactly what Andy signed up and began the training to do.

But, in the middle of the rigorous training course, a car accident left him crippled and critically injured.

Left having to rely on a wheelchair, it looked as if Andy's dream of taking to the skies would remain just that.

Andy, 21, of Dorset Road, Chandler's Ford said: "The training course was the same one that the parachute regiment do to get their wings.

"It was what I had always wanted to do and I was definitely going to do it."

Now, plucky Andy has battled back and achieved his skydiving goal - raising £3,300 for Southampton's Rose Road appeal in the process.

Andy said: "I don't really remember the first few weeks after the accident.

"But one of the first things my father said was that he would sort out a parachute jump for me."

Andy spent the next 16 months in hospital receiving physiotherapy and occupational therapy. He has since qualified as a PE instructor and an Army cadet instructor.

The parachute jump was a present for his 21st birthday in February and Andy decided he should use the occasion to raise money for charity.

His grandmother Joyce Keenan helped Andy chose the Rose Road appeal which aims to raise £4.75 million to build a new centre for profoundly-disabled children.

Mrs Keenan is also helping the appeal by holding a Christmas Fayre at Micheldever Village Hall on November 6, 11.30am-4pm.

Andy, a former pupil at Wyvern Community School in Fair Oak, works as a salesman for Clearwater Sales. The company sponsored Andy to the tune of £2,000 for the jump and has promised a further £20,000 in future donations.

Andy and a group of guests were treated to a special assembly at The Mordaunt School before he presented his cheque to the Rose Road appeal.

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