Reporter Hayley Cover is to brave a 100ft drop after getting rather involved in a story she was covering.

The Oxford Journal girl - who is scared of heights - volunteered to do an abseil because of her close work with a kidney patient who is raising money for the local hospital.

The event, at John Radcliffe Hospital, is being covered as part of a series of stories about 16-year-old patient Ian Finney.

Hayley (right) said: "I'm terrified of heights so I don't know where I found the courage to agree to take part.

"I can't even walk up a steep staircase with windows either side without getting vertigo.

"I blame my editor Lawrence Webb. He encouraged me to do it, and as I'm easily persuaded I said yes.

"I hope that by taking part my fear of heights gets better, although knowing my luck, it's bound to get worse!"

Hayley's target is to raise at least £200 for the National Kidney Research Fund - and she'll be in good company because four of her friends, as well as a kidney doctor from Churchill Hospital, will be taking part.

The Journal devoted a front page to the fund-raising campaign and the story this week.

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