Sky dive's the limit for charity fund raiser

Iskender Levent will be raising vital funds for a charity which supports children and young people with cancer.

The 42-year-old employee at Morrison’s in Leyland will be joined by store colleague Vicky Shirlaw, 26, for the Skyline world record attempt for the most tandem jumps completed in 24 hours on Saturday, June 17.

Iskender, whose chosen charity is CLIC Sargent, explained: “Morrison’s charity partner is CLIC Sargent which also helped me when my son was diagnosed with cancer.

“I thought I’d give a little bit back.”

Iskender and his partner Nicky, of Alice Avenue, Leyland, noticed something was wrong with their son Samuel’s right eye when he was 18-months-old in 2015.

Following medical tests it turned out the youngster had retinoblastoma - cancer of the retina - a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children usually under the age of five.

If it is picked up early, it can often be successfully treated.

Children treated for retinoblastoma diagnosed at an early stage have a survival rate of more than 95 per cent.

“Shortly after he had his right eye removed and has a prosthetic eye,” said Iskender.

“He’s been in remission for two years now.

“We go regularly for check ups and everything is going good. He’s had spinal taps and bone marrow checks.

Iskender said he was full of praise for CLIC Sargent.

“I don’t know what we would have done,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iskender, who works in the wine and spirits department at Morrison’s, where Vicky is the manager, said of the skydive: “We’re doing it at Lancaster, but it’s all over the country.

“Vicky is a good friend of mine, so we thought we’d both do it.”

Vicky has just moved from Leyland to Preston.

She said she was looking forward to the event.

“I think so, I’m excited at the minute,” she said. “However I might be different when I get in the plane

The Skyline world record attempt in June will aim to beat all of its previous records.

More than 330 daredevils are taking to the skies in the name of their chosen charity.

You do not need any previous experience.

Skydivers will be attached to an instructor who is in complete control of the jump throughout.