Daredevil pensioner Nan O’Rourke completed her ”fantastic” first-ever parachute jump at the weekend at the age of 70.
Nan, from Carnoustie, said she was still on a high after leaping into the unknown at Glenrothes Airport to raise money to help send Angus twins Ayley and Chloe Hirsch to America for life-changing surgery.
Describing herself as ”still grinning from ear to ear,” she said she loved every minute of Sunday’s parachute dive.
Nan said: ”I really enjoyed every minute of it. If they’d asked me to go up again I would have gone straight away. I haven’t come down yet.
“I now know what the youngsters mean when they say they got a buzz from something it was a total buzz!”
Nan signed up for the jump when she turned 70 in February, but was kept waiting after her first scheduled jump in June was cancelled due to the weather.
Two further attempts were also scuppered but Sunday’s perfect conditions saw her complete her task and raise around £1,800.
Nan said: ”Some of that has to go to pay for the jump, but the rest will go to the fund for the girls.
”All I thought about when I jumped out of the plane was these wee lassies. They’ve now reached their total and I think they’ve got a date early in the new year to go and get their surgery.”
Everything raised above the initial fundraising target will be used to pay for the girls’ ongoing care and specialist therapy.
Nan added: ”Their dad Frazer was also there today doing a jump. I got to know them when I saw stuff on Facebook and offered to help. Frazer had suggested parachute jumps, so I got in touch and volunteered to do it.
“I wasn’t scared at all I didn’t even scream or shout. I thought I might get a bit nervous on the day but there was nothing. I just loved it it was brilliant.”
Nan is no stranger to raising money for charity just last year she took part in her first Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research at the age of 69.
She also goes to the gym at least three times a week and swims regularly.
Nan added: ”I’ve always liked keeping myself active and I really enjoy keeping fit.”
Her daughter Lynne, who watched nervously from the ground as Nan jumped from the plane added: ”It was lovely, very emotional and she did fantastically well.
”She smiled all the way through it. It was a perfect day for it and she’s still grinning, we can’t wipe the smile off her face. I’m very proud of her she got a lot of support from a lot of people for this.”You can find more about the fundraising drive for the twins at www.facebook.com/helpayleyandchloewalk