A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER took to the sky yesterday to complete a fundraising challenge that is not for the faint hearted.
Kitty Grove-Stephensen, from Middlesbrough, took part in a sponsored flight in a microlight aircraft with East Durham Microlights to raise thousands of pounds for MS Research.
The 87-year-old described the experience as “fantastic” and “not scary at all” – and she even got the chance to wave to her friend as she passed over her house.
She said: “It was really exciting – I’ve been planning to do something when I was 87 for quite a while now and this was the one that was able to take me aloft. It is a beautiful day – it couldn’t be better.
“Basically I do it for the money and the sponsorship – I do it to raise money for medical charities. This is the fourth one I’ve done for medical charities and if I am lucky and I push hard, I just might make a grand total of £10,000 since I’ve started 12 years ago, and that’s my new aim.
“The money is more exciting than anything but it was lovely up there.”
This was by no means Kitty’s first extreme challenge, as she previously abseiled off the Transporter Bridge and travelled on a zip wire at speeds of more than 100mph.
And despite turning 87 last week, she has no plans to slow down – and is even planning another abseiling challenge when she reaches 90.
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Kitty said she had initially wanted to take part in a wing walk or paragliding, but she could not get approval from her doctor, therefore her chosen challenge was her “last hope”.
After completing the challenge, she said: “That’s better – that was fantastic. It is not scary – don’t let anyone tell you it is scary – there is nothing wrong with it.
“I flew over my friends house – they gave me a wave and I waved back again.”
All of Kitty’s challenges have raised several thousands of pounds for medical charities, and her latest adventure will help raise money for MS Research.
The charity is close to Kitty’s heart, as she has previously lost four family members to the condition.
She has three children, two grand-children and three step-great-grandchildren, and has been a dedicated charity worker since she was 10.
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