A daredevil Northern nan has raised over £1,500 and counting for a local charity after completing a 15,00ft skydive.
To mark 30 years since the start of the Carer Support South Lakes charity, and to raise some worthy funds for the Kendal-based organisation in the process, 61-year-old Jane Eccles from Flookburgh in Cumbria successfully completed her first-ever skydive by leaping from a whopping 15,000 feet.
There’s no denying that free-falling at 120mph isn’t for everyone, but Jane proudly said the entire experience was “absolutely amazing”.
If you’re unfamiliar with the charity, Carer Support South Lakes supports unpaid Carers of all ages across Cumbria, and provides them with access to information, emotional support, advocacy, financial support, and opportunities to take a much-needed break.
It’s also a charity that’s close particularly close to Jane’s heart.
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The mother of two sons and three stepchildren, and grandmother of five grandchildren, volunteers to support Young Carers at the charity part time, and said she felt she “wanted to do something to highlight the important work it does”.
61-year-old Jane Eccles successfully completed her first-ever skydive by leaping from a whopping 15,000 feet / Credit: Skydive North West
Jane completed the jump with local skydive company, Skydive North West, in tandem with professional skydiver Ed Roscoe at Cark Airfield in Flookburgh, and her family were out in full force to watch and support her.
Looking back on her thrilling experience, Jane told ITV Granada: “When we first arrived at the base, the people who had gone up earlier landed in the rain and I thought we might not get up – but the clouds broke, and we managed to do an amazing jump.
“Apparently, I was the noisiest one coming down.
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“All the others were very serene and came down not saying anything, while I was whooping, screaming and shouting.”
The Cumbrian grandmother has raised over £1,500 and counting for Carer Support South Lakes / Credit: Skydive North West
Jane set up a dedicated JustGiving page for the skydive, and since taking the brave leap, has managed to raise over £1,500 and counting in donations – which she says she is “so grateful” for and “will make a huge difference”.
“I’m so grateful to all those people who have given money so far,” Jane continued.
“Donations, whether large or small, will make a huge difference to the charity and help it to continue its vital work with carers.”
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You can donate to Carer Support South Lakes via Jane’s JustGiving page here.
Featured Image – Skydive North West
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Manchester United have been linked with a move for a Real Madrid legend
Danny Jones
Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing football legend and former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, over a decade on from the last time he was linked with the club.
Yes, after the notion of signing the Spanish defender first cropped circa 2009, and then again in 2015 (that time with the possibility of David de Gea famously going the other way), the European footballing veteran is set to be pursued by a number of teams next month.
One might even consider a third turn around the ‘could he?’ carousel towards the same club, not unlike the Wesley Sneijder-Man United equivalent of the transfer rumour mill.
Nevertheless, it appears as if it’s come round once again, though it remains to be seen just whether or not the story has any serious legs.
According to Spanish news outlet and radio station, Cadena SER, Sergio Ramos is now being eyed up for a potential move to Manchester, and the idea of him finally donning a United shirt might not be so far-fetched after all.
Now 39 years old and having personally announced that he won’t be signing a new deal at CF Monterrey, he will soon be available as a free agent in the upcoming January transfer window.
Ramos, a World Cup and Euros winner – not to mention serial La Liga and Champions League trophy collector – joined the Mexican club back in February after more than 16 years with the European giants, but his contract runs out at the end of this December.
Despite being set to enter his 40s and already well into the second decade of his professional career, the latest is that the Red Devils have now put forward a ‘formal offer’ to reunite the established, serial winner and senior star with his former and equally decorated teammate, Casemiro.
🚨🚨🌖| BREAKING: Manchester United have formally put forward an offer to bring Sergio Ramos to Old Trafford in the January window. [@La_SER via @goal] pic.twitter.com/QpOlL4izk2
It goes without saying that not only will numerous teams be throwing their hat in the ring to sign Ramos this January, but any side would benefit from having such a strong and experienced leadership presence in the dressing room, let alone Ruben Amorim‘s squad.
Better still, bringing in a player of his calibre on a free will be seen as an absolute coup by whoever eventually secures his signature.
However, as per GOAL (who also shared the claims made by Cadena SER earlier this week), while the Spaniard is said to have no intention of hanging up his boots just yet and still wants to try and compete at the top level, it is thought he would like a second return to Sevilla.
The belief is that when Ramos does retire, it will be back at his boyhood club – but before that, we couldn’t really be about to see him in the red of a Man United shirt… could we?
BBC is back looking for more Mancs to test their music knowledge and win £10,000
Emily Sergeant
Consider yourself a music fan? Spend your days with tunes on in the background? Would you be able to identify a song within the first couple of seconds?
Well, this might be your chance to win £10,000 then.
Once again, the BBC is back casting for the next series of its smash-hit competition show The Hit List, where contestants get their music knowledge put to the ultimate test, and the broadcaster is now looking for people from across Greater Manchester to apply and be in with the chance of winning a massive pot of cash.
The Hit List, presented by popstar couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes, sees three pairs of music-lovers go up against each other.
Across three rounds, the contestants attempt to identify huge hits from across the years, and the three teams must prove their ability to recognise songs from across all genres of music, both artist and song title, if they want to take home the win.
A casting call for the next series of The Hit List on the BBC website reads: “Could your love of music win you a £10,000 cash prize? We are looking for lively pairs of contestants to take part.”
Any one can apply to take part in the show, but producers and casting directors say they would particularly love to hear from couples, grandparent and grandchild, siblings, best mates, and parent and offspring.
“Anything goes, as long as you love your music and know your hits,” the casting call concludes.
Anyone who applies to the show must be a legal UK resident, and be available for potential filming dates in early March 2026 up in Glasgow.
Emily Sergeant -
7th July 2022 
