WOODFORD GREEN: Mum takes to the skies to raise money for local school (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WOODFORD GREEN: Mum takes to the skies to raise money for local school

11:24am Tuesday 21st June 2011 in Your Local Areas By Dominic Sutton

A CHIGWELL mum has taken to the skies to raise money for a local school.

Sue Floyd, 44, of Hainault Road, raised £8,000 for Hatton School and Special Needs Centre, Woodford Green, with a “Wing Walk” at Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Upminster on May 7.

Mrs Floyd said: “A friend mentioned Hatton School were trying to raise some money.

“My brother-in-law went to the school many years ago and I thought it would be nice to help them.

“I’d done some sky-diving 10 or eleven years ago and considered that, but then I stumbled across an ad for wing walking and thought it might be fun.”

Mrs Floyd was strapped to the wings of a biplane at the aerodrome and flew above the aerodrome at heights of around 200 feet.

She added: “Everyone who saw me up there said I was very brave, but it was actually pretty relaxing.

“Once I settled into it, I just enjoyed all the lovely views.”

Friends donated a total of £4,000, and Sue’s husband Dean, 44, who runs a construction company, doubled the money.

Delighted Hatton School Deputy Head, Susan Layton, said: ““We are extremely grateful for the amazing fundraising effort that Susan has made for our school. We are in awe of her bravery and believe she has shown a great example to our children.”

The money will go towards buying the school a new minibus.

Mrs Floyd is already planning more fundraising ideas and hasn’t ruled out another wing walk.

“I’m thinking about doing something for a local hospice which looks after sick and terminally ill children,” she said. “I might do something like this again, but I’m also considering trying to organise a charity concert.”

One person who won’t be phased if Sue takes to the air again is her nine-year-old son Aaron.

“Aaron came to see me do the wing walk,” explained Mrs Floyd. “He was pretty nonplussed by it all to tell you the truth.

I think he was too busy playing with his friends to worry.”

Click here to follow the Wanstead & oodford Guardian on Twitter