JUMPING out of a plane at 10,000ft would strike fear into most people - but not this brave partially-sighted teenager.
Kaylee Scholefield, 18, made the decision to take the leap as one of many things she wants to do to raise money for the organisations that have helped her manage her sight loss.
Kaylee organised the skydive to raise funds for the hospital that had treated her, Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, and also donated to Barnsley Blind and Partially Sighted Association (BBPSA).
Kaylee, of Woolstocks Lane, Cawthorne, said: “It was a bit surreal, I made the decision to do it in April so it had been building up for ages, but when it came round to it there was no backing out.
“Because we had it filmed I kept looking at the camera instead of out of the plane.
“It took us 30 minutes to climb to 10,000ft and it wasn’t even five minutes on the way back down, but the view from the air was amazing, the sea looked so blue.”
Kaylee was diagnosed with Stargardt disease when she was 12.
The condition predominantly affects central vision and causes blind spots, blurriness and light sensitivity.
She said: “I had just started high school but the school were really good with managing it.
“I just feel like when you have been through something like that it makes you ten times stronger and you just get on with it.”
Kaylee’s mum, Lesley, said her daughter had raised more than £300 for Moorfields and looked as if she would match that for BBPSA.
Lesley, 47, said: “It was special, she’s special, she’s an inspiration to us all.
“She’s very determined and extremely independent but she has also got fantastic friends around her.
“At the end of the day you’ve got to let her take the opportunities she wants to take.
“I just hope she doesn’t come back with anything too extreme next time.”
Lesley said the family chose not to put anything online as they wanted to keep the donations personal.
Donations came from family, friends, neighbours and customers of Lesley and husband Ian’s hairdressing business on Highstone Lane, Ward Green.
Kaylee said she wanted to keep fundraising and has a list of things she wants to do in the future, including abseiling and climbing the UK’s highest peaks.
