A Rainham teenager will jump from the sky when she parachutes out of a plane in memory of her father who died earlier this year.

Ashleigh Cooper’s dad Max died from ischemic heart disease in March.

Only-child Ashleigh, 15, and her mum, Diane were left devastated by his sudden death and have been struggling with their grief ever since.

Before his death, Max and Diane had paid for Ashleigh to do the parachute jump for her 16th birthday.

She had always wanted to do a jump for fun but, since her dad’s death, has decided to make it her mission to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, in her dad’s memory.

The Chatham Grammar School pupil will fall from the sky in Cambridgeshire on Saturday

two days after her 16th birthday.

Proud mum Diane, of Maidstone Road, said: “The jump was paid for just for a birthday present for Ashleigh.

“We had also booked a big birthday party for her, too, but, since Max passed away, she has decided she no longer wants to have a party.

“We were talking about the jump the other day and that’s how she came up with the idea of raising money for the foundation.

“I was gob-smacked when she said it, I couldn’t believe it. I’m really so proud of her, especially as our emotions and Max’s death are still very raw.

“She’s also been doing her GCSEs, and the last few months have been hard on her. She was very close to her dad.

“We have been busy getting people we know to sponsor her and I’m going up to see her do her jump on Saturday.”