On Tuesday 16th November 2016, Julie Nuttall will be facing her fear of heights head on and jumping 15,000 feet from a plane!

Julie will be taking part in the jump in Queenstown, New Zealand. She will ascend in a small plane for around 20 minutes in order to reach a height of 15,000 ft. Then, when the plane door opens, she will jump... reaching speeds of around 160mph and free-falling through the air for around 60 seconds before the parachute is activated.

Julie has always had a fear of heights - but is taking on this terrifying tandem skydive in order to raise money and awareness of a cause very close to her heart - Fibromyalgia UK.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and long term pain condition which affects around one in twenty people in the UK. Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it is found to affect around seven times as many women as men. The condition typically affects people between the ages of 30 and 50, but can occur at any age - including during childhood or in the elderly. Sufferers experience often constant and debilitating pain. There is no known cure for the condition and many people diagnosed with the condition are forced to take a cocktail of medication just to get through the day.

In March 2014 Julie was forced to take early retirement from a career she loved due to fibromyalgia. She has since become involved in fundraising for her local Fibromyalgia support group. She has done a number of sponsored North Sea New Years Day swims (in sub zero temperatures!) and recently completed a fire-walk (over coals burning at around 1200 degrees!) - but a skydive will be without doubt her biggest challenge to date.

Julie is looking to raise £1500 to pay for information literature for people suffering from fibromyalgia and their families, which it is hoped will raise awareness and create a better understanding of the condition.

Julie is paying for the jump and all associated costs herself .