A WOMAN who is afraid of heights won’t be looking down as she braves a 370-foot drop for charity.

Michele Turner-Everett will be part of the four-strong team abseiling off Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower next month.

It’s all in aid of the Armed Forces Charity SSAFA who this year want to raise money for a mental health drop-in session at Colchester’s Merville Barracks.

Michele has also enlisted the help of Mandy Small and her son Jamie to join the daring abseil on September 4.

Gazette: Team effort - Mandy and Jamie SmallTeam effort - Mandy and Jamie Small

Mandy, who is Colchester Garrison’s mental health ambassador, and Jamie were bereaved when the latter was just eight-years-old after his father, who was in the army, took his own life.

They will also be joined by Suzanne Wood, a serving Royal Navy officer, as the foursome bid to raise vital funds which will tackle social isolation and loneliness among single soldiers.

“We want to let people know it’s OK not to be OK,” said Michele, SSAFA’s servicing community team chairwoman for Essex.

“A lot of people on the Garrison find it difficult to admit they are not ok. We want to try and change this mindset and give them a safe space to come and be heard.”

Gazette: Iconic - Portsmouth's Spinnaker TowerIconic - Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower

Michele added: “We are all a bit afraid of heights, maybe not Jamie so much, but we will see.

“But we are not just talking, we are happy to push ourselves to show we are committed to raising awareness of mental health challenges and highlight how SSAFA supports service people and their loved ones through the hard times.”

The team are hoping to raise £1,000 towards the costs of the new SSAFA Mental Health Pop-in, which will provide a vital service for the soldiers.

You can help their efforts by donating via bit.ly/3ASElCF.