Frontline soldiers are doing their bit for Help the Heroes charity

Nov 1 2009 by Mieka Smiles, Sunday Sun

'I just want to make him as proud of me as I am of him'

SOLDIER Kevin Richardson is set to be sent off to Afghanistan in style.

In honour of his bravery, Kevin’s girlfriend Cheryl Bennett has decided to face her own fears and do a skydive in aid of Help for Heroes - the charity which supports injured servicemen and women.

The mum-of-one from Newcastle is dreading Kevin leaving for his first tour in war-torn Afghanistan in February next year.

She remembers how much she worried for his safety when he was fighting in Iraq.

But Cheryl, 27, is taking her mind off it by tackling her fear of heights head-on and jumping out of a plane at 13,000ft, a fitting tribute to Kevin, 25, who started his career in the Army as a parachutist.

Now with the Scots Guards, based at the Catterick barracks in North Yorkshire, Kevin has just got back from a four-month trip to Canada.

"I’m used to him being away, but it’s much harder when I’m worrying about what could happen to him," said Cheryl, who lives with her five-year-old daughter Sophie.

"I’m not looking forward to it all," she said. "But I am very proud of him. For quite a while now I’ve been wanting to do something to make him proud of me like I am of him.

"So I’ve decided to throw myself out of a plane at 13,000ft - something my boyfriend does for fun quite regularly!

"I’m terrified of heights and it’s taken me a very long time to pluck up the courage to actually decide to do this."

Help for Heroes is a charity close to Cheryl’s heart as she knows what the soldiers go through putting their lives on the line.

"Not a lot of people understand what an amazing job our soldiers do and how hard it is on them and their families," said the overseas recruitment consultant.

"This is my chance to give a little something back."

:: To sponsor Cheryl, head to her web page at www.justgiving.com/Cheryl-Bennett