Trainee reporter Suzy Whitaker began working at the Epping Forest Guardian last month and her career is already coming on in leaps and bounds - as she prepares for a 180ft bungee jump.

When the paper carried a story about the charity event in Little Havens Children's Hospice, Suzy decided to set an example and take the plunge too, and is set to complete her daring stunt on Saturday.

She will be among the volunteers gathered in the village of Abridge to leap from a 180ft crane - and she also plans to share the experience with readers of Guardian website www.guardian-series.co.uk with the help of a video camera strapped to her arm.

Editor David Jackman also plans to film the stunt from the top of the crane.

Suzy, (23), who also writes for the Harlow Citizen and Bishop's Stortford Citizen, said: "My colleague, Isobel, was writing about the event and I thought I'd have a look at the (hospice) website.

"There are some really awful things that the families of children who are terminally ill go through, and I thought what is a 180ft bungee jump in comparison?"

Suzy is still looking for sponsors, and all money raised will go to Little Havens Children's Hospice.

To donate go to:
www.justgiving.com/Suzys_BungeeJump