A GROUP of young men will take to the skies in memory of a much-loved father and friend in a bid to raise money for charity.

A GROUP of young men will take to the skies in memory of a much-loved father and friend in a bid to raise money for charity.

Matthew McDonald, 30, Ryan Mitchell, 29, and Ben Riggs, 27, will take part in a parachute jump in memory of Mick McDonald who died of multiple sclerosis (MS) 11 years ago.

More than two decades ago, Mick, 46, and Mr Riggs' father, Dave Riggs, took part in a parachute jump in aid of the RNLI after Dave's nephew went missing on a school trip.

From then on, Mick took to the skies on a regular basis but was sadly struck down with MS in his late 30s before he died.

His daughter, Matthew's sister and Mr Mitchell's fianc�, Gaena McDonald, 31, from Thomas Paine Avenue in Thetford, said: “It affected him quite quickly. I remember when my mum told me she said there were different types.

“With him it went bad quite quickly so one minute he had a walking stick and the other he couldn't walk at all.”

She went on: “He was a joker and everyone knew him. Everyone loved him and he was really popular. He played football and did karate and after the parachute jump he loved it and did so many more. With his illness he just went from one person to another really quickly.”

Matthew, a forklift driver, from Norwich Road in Thetford, Mr Mitchell, a fencer from Thomas Paine Avenue, and Ben, a computer technician from Magdalen Street, in Thetford, will jump on August 8.

Ms McDonald added: “I'm really proud of them for doing and because my partner never met my dad so he's doing it for me.”

To sponsor them go to www.justgiving.com/ryan-mitchell.