A FUNDRAISER will face his fear of heights when he takes to the skies in aid of his terminally ill friend.

Gavin Collins will complete a 13,000-foot high tandem skydive to raise funds for his lifelong friend Richard Barrett who has Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Father-of-two Mr Barrett, 44, of Town Lane, Thackley, was diagnosed with aggressive MND in November last year.

Mr Collins will be joined in his fundraising feat by his sister Michelle Chapman, 41, of Bingley. They will do their skydive in Lancaster at a date still to be fixed next month.

All proceeds will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Mr Collins, of West Royd Crescent, Windhill, Shipley, admitted he is petrified of heights but wanted to raise funds in his friend's name.

He said: "It's the last thing I will do for Richard, I hope that he will make it to know that I have done the skydive.

"I'm petrified of heights, so I'm not looking forward to doing it.

"My sister Michelle has done two skydives before. I was just wanting to do something for him.

"We are waiting for a date for the skydive.

"Motor Neurone Disease has got him within the last eight months. He is talking but he is rigged up to a few pipes.

"I go and see him two or three times a week, he is getting worse each time I see him.

"I have known Richard for years, we grew up together. He does know I'm doing the skydive for him."

Bradford City fan Mr Barrett is now living in a care home in Saltaire.

His health deteriorated last year when he began losing weight and becoming breathless. By last August he was forced to give up working as a carer for autistic adults as his symptoms had become so severe.

He was then having to then use a wheelchair to get about as he became so out of breath and doctors diagnosed that part of his lung had collapsed.

But he was hospitalised again and then diagnosed with an aggressive form of MND.

Family and friends have also completed sponsored events in Mr Barrett's name including a climb of Ben Nevis in June this year.

An auction event at Bradford City's Valley Parade ground earlier this month raised more than £2,000 for the charity.

Other fundraisers included Mr Barrett's lifelong friend Rachel Imris running the Leeds 10k race earlier this month.

Mr Barrett's mother Denise Barrett said: "It's a remarkable thing for Gavin and Michelle to do. You don't expect somebody to do something like that.

"We are still looking at getting Richard home. We are hoping he has a few months to live.

"It is wonderful that people have offered to do these fundraising things."

Go to justgiving.com/Michelle-Chapman10 to make a donation.