Trainee teacher Natasha Kirkland is making a giant leap in memory of her little sister Sophie. 

Natasha, of Clarke Lane, Meltham, and fellow teaching student Lucy Scanding, of Harrington Court, Meltham, will be taking to the skies two miles about Lancashire on May 15 to do a skydive for charity. 

Their adventurous challenge marks the one-year anniversary of the sudden death of Sophie, aged 15, who was a pupil at Honley High School.

The two 20-year-olds are hoping their thrilling 10,000 foot leap will raise £500 for the charity CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young. 

The Meltham friends are both teaching students at York St John University. 

They thought of the skydiving project after watching the TV programme 'I'm a Celebrity'. 

It will involve them jumping from an aeroplane harnessed to the front of a fully qualified parachuting instructor.  They are likely to reach speeds of up to 120pmh. 

Natasha said: "I am quite nervous, but Lucy is very nervous! 

"We will be scared, but I am looking forward to it because we are doing something to raise money and remember Sophie. 

"We are proud of ourselves for doing the skydive.  It is a life achievement for us, when we are old we can say we have done it." 

Natasha described her younger sister Sophie as a very kind and popular girl who would do anything for anyone. 

She died unexpectedly on May 9 last year. 

The family vowed to celebrate her life by taking part in a charity event every year. 

Last year the family ran a tug 'o war competition at the Sands House pub, Crosland Moor, which raised £620 for CRY. 

Natasha and Lucy have already raised £420 this year by organising a contest at university  based on the Take Me Out television programme. 

Although Sophie's cause of death has never been officially established, it was attributed to SADS - Sudden Adult (or Arrhythmic) Death Syndrome. 

The official definition of SADS is 'a non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected occurrence resulting from cardiac arrest within as little as six hours of previously witnessed normal health.'

The charity CRY was set up in 1995 to promote awareness of the syndrome. 

It works with cardiologists and family doctors to promote and protect the cardiac health of young people by establishing good practice and screening. 

Anyone interested in sponsoring Natasha and Lucy can do so by logging on to the website www.virginmoneygiving.com and typing in their names.