Here's Day Surgery's Vicky Smith - as she might look at around 13,000 feet on Saturday, April 27.

That's the big day when our Vicky plans to overcome her fear of flying in support of  a project to build a water well in Gambia being led by Stephen Peterson, HRI's Senior Medical Engineering Officer.

Stephen regularly visits the villagers in Mandina and continues fundraising for these people in order to improve their quality of living, and when Day Surgery's Rachel Shine heard about she recruited Vicky.

You have a fear of flying? Are you mad? I have my nappy ordered and I have yet to reveal this to my lovely wife as I fear she will pack my bags as she has had to put up with me for 14 years observing my numerous tantrums every time we fly….

Describe how flying makes you feel?  Put it this way - I have diazepam on repeat prescription…..Next  question please…gulp….

How do you feel about it with two months to go? Can I just say I can highly recommend it as a weight loss diet.

Is there any chance you might bottle it? No chance whatsoever because every human being has a right to running water. Every time I feel a wave of panic I am reminded of the wonderful cause and feel very determined to overcome my fear and accomplish this amazing opportunity.

How will you celebrate when you’re back down to earth? Firstly I’ll mop my tears from my face with a towel, then I will change said nappy, then I’ll think about removing my talons from the chap that threw me out the plane, then I will definitely cry tears of joy as we will be that much closer to our goal of raising the £2,000 for the water well.  

Rachel said: " When I spoke to Steve about the fundraising, I was keen to help. I spoke to our Clinical Operations Manager Victoria Smith who was willing to help. I had the idea of a skydive because this would be a huge challenge for Vicky who has a phobia of flying. Luckily after some consideration she agreed. I am delighted to say we've now booked the jump and the sponsors have started, but we are a long way from the £2,000 needed for a drinking water well.

There are sponsor forms in the Day Surgery staff room and Rachel can be contacted on rachel.shine@cht.nhs.uk for more information.