A BRAVE, former community college student, who discovered she had cancer just three months after the death of her little sister, is to jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet to honour her memory – despite a mortal dread of heights.

A BRAVE, former community college student, who discovered she had cancer just three months after the death of her little sister, is to jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet to honour her memory - despite a mortal dread of heights.

Cancer survivor, 42-year-old single mum Michele Savva, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in February, and is planning the charity sky dive later this month to raise money for charity, and is appealing for sponsors.

Michele, who went to The Beacon Primary School and Exmouth Community College, says she is determined to complete the dive and raise as much money as possible for the charity Ovacome and her sister Emma Bright, who tragically died suddenly last November aged just 20.

Now, despite recovering from a hysterectomy, Michele plans to mark beating the disease by conquering her vertigo.

"Although some say I've been unlucky, I don't feel that way," she says. "I feel fortunate to have beaten cancer and desperately want to give something back. Because I'm frightened of heights it made sense, in my own crazy way, to do a sky dive."

Michele and Emma lived in Phear Avenue with their mum Judith Bright and sister Rachel.

Emma, who worked part-time at Mackays clothing store in Exmouth while she studied at Exeter College, was still living in the street when she died.

Hundreds of people turned out to her funeral and the wake was held at The Heavitree pub, which has a sponsorship form for Michele's jump for friends and acquaintances who want to help fundraise.

So far Michele, who moved to Torquay 27 years ago and now lives in Paignton, has raised more than �300 for ovarian cancer charity Ovacome.

This includes �160 which she collected during a stint in Paignton town centre where she and a friend Theresa set up a makeshift Ovacome-branded stall with balloons and buckets.

She is now planning two days of collecting money at Morrisons and her 14-year-old daughter Eleni's school is planning to stage a non-uniform day to raise money.

After what she says has been the worst 12 months of her life, Michele feels that preparing for her jump is helping her face the future and says that raising funds for Ovacome has made her feel "the happiest I've felt in a year."

She added: "It just goes to show there's more good than bad in the world. I have been so lucky with all the support, kindness and pure affection surrounding me and I will be eternally grateful. It is important to me to give something back.

"I want to raise as much as I can in Emma's memory. No words can describe the loss. I really miss her, we all really miss her."

You can help her by donating at www.justgiving.com/michelesavva or by picking up a sponsorship form at The Heavitree in the High Street, Exmouth.