AN 80-year-old woman is taking to the skies in a wing walk to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
Janet Barker, from Corfe Mullen, is fulfilling her ‘lifelong dream’ of completing a wing-walking experience, which involves being strapped to the top wing of a plane while it flies around the Dorset countryside.
The charity Janet chose to fundraise for is the British Heart Foundation, which she said needs is ‘very important’ to her.’ Janet said: “A wing walk is something I have always wanted to do.
“I couldn’t jump out of a plane; it would have to be on fire to get me to jump out of it. But I’ll give a wing walk a go as long as I am strapped on really well.”
The flying experience involves being strapped to a vintage Boeing Stearman biplane. It promises ‘vertiginous climbs’ with wind speeds of up to 120mph, all while diving at angles of up to 35 degrees.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Janet, which aims to raise £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation, the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research into heart and circulatory diseases.
Janet said her husband passed away 22 years ago as a result of undiagnosed heart complaints, and therefore, the BHF is extremely ‘close to her heart.’ She said: “If his symptoms had been diagnosed sooner, hopefully, we could have done something to save him. “We didn’t have a chance, and he died very suddenly.
“But now I want to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation so other people can keep their loved ones by their side.”
Janet will be completing her wing walk at Henstridge Airfield on July 28, depending on the weather.
She said: “I wanted to complete this challenge before I get too old.”
Janet said her family will be at her side, supporting her while she soars through the skies.
She added: “My daughter and my grandchildren will be coming with me.
“Friends from my bowling club will hopefully come along, all of us oldies will have great fun!”
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