A weekly newspaper journalist has taken part in a skydive in aid of the hospice where his mother works.

Westmorland Gazette reporter Alex Candlin undertook the charity challenge in aid of Lancaster’s St John’s Hospice.

Alex, pictured below during the dive, raised £500 for the charity as a result of the jump.

He told the Kendal-based Gazette he had been “set” on undertaking the challenge since before the coronavirus lockdown.

Alex said: “My mum works for St John’s Hospice as a nurse and she has nothing but praise for the people there and the work they do. The lockdown was hard on them and I wanted to help.

“I’ve covered a few stories of people doing charity jumps for St John’s in the past and I thought it looked fun.

“Before lockdown I kept thinking that I really wanted to do a skydive someday.

“Then lockdown happened and I realised all the chances I could have taken to do one I let pass by.

“The moment lockdown was over I was set on doing one.”

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