A CANCER sufferer is set to fly to 3,500 feet to raise money for St. Michael's Hospice - once he's got his helicopter licence.

Bob Purvis, 85, will use the challenge as a means of coping with living with incurable liver cancer.

A former president of the Ross-on-Wye Branch of The Royal British Legion, Mr Purvis has already learned how to control a helicopter in forward flight and how to hover.

He has another 44 hours of training, 10 hours of which have to be solo so that he can achieve his licence.

He said: "Children from the age of 14 can learn to fly a helicopter, so being diagnosed with cancer wasn't going to stop me.

"Tiger Helicopters offer a free air experience flight and after I first experienced the thrill of taking control of a Robinson 22 Helicopter I was hooked.

"Living with cancer makes you appreciate just how crucial hospice care is and I hope taking to the skies will encourage people to dig deep and donate to a worthwhile cause."

Mr Purvis plans to hover above the hospice in Bartestree and raise £1,000.

St Michael's Hospice Community Fundraising Manager Paddy Nugent said: "Bob is a real inspiration and it's wonderful that he has chosen to support St Michael's with such a unique challenge."

To find out more and to support Bob's challenge visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bob-purvis3500feet

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