GUTSY Julie Arthur has raised hundreds of pounds for the charity she works for.

Julie Arthur is a fundraising officer for Colchester Hospitals Charity.

She decided she should practice what she preached so organised her own event in support of the Cancer Centre Campaign.

Mum-of-two Julie, 47, did a sponsored tandem skydive, jumping out of a plane at 13,000ft in Beccles, Suffolk.

She descended in freefall for 40 seconds at 120mph before the parachute opened.

Her efforts have raised more than £800 with money still coming in.

Julie, of Colchester, said: “I would encourage anyone who has ever thought about doing a tandem skydive to get out there and do it for Colchester Hospitals Charity. What a fantastic experience.”

Gazette:

The Cancer Centre Campaign, which is supported by the Gazette, aims to raise £4.5 million to build a centre of excellence.

If the money is raised, it will be built on the radiotherapy centre at Colchester General Hospital which has some of the most advanced equipment inEurope.

Patients with blood cancers or having chemotherapy are cared for at the Mary Barron suite which is on the other side of the hospital, about a quarter of a mile away.

A centre would bring all cancer treatments and therapies together in one place.

So far, just over £1.3 million has been raised so more is desperately needed.

To donate to the Cancer Centre Campaign, text GAZE11 £10 to 70070 (or chose a different amount).

Cheques can be made payable to CoHoC Cancer Centre Campaign and sent to Colchester Hospitals Charity, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL.

For more information on how to support the Cancer Centre Campaign, go to cohoc.org.uk.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Julie can visist justgiving.com/Julie-Arthur.