Daredevil teens to bungee for Myton

Fourteen-year-old Loretta Franks may be the youngest in the group taking the daredevil plunge - as she only just made it into the age category whereby this type of activity is permitted.

The Myton School pupil, of Myton Lane, in fact wanted to do a skydive, but was not old enough, so she and her brother Curtis, 18, are hoping to raise as much as they can in memory of their grandmother Elizabeth Hope, who was cared for at Myton’s Warwick site before she died of lung cancer ten years ago.

Loretta, who normally spends her spare time pursuing more sedate pastimes including practising art and playing the piano, said: “The closest thing to this that I have done is go on the bungee ball ride at the Warwick Mop fair.

“I am scared now that it’s getting closer, but I will be more scared when I’m on the crane.”

Loretta and Curtis’s other grandmother, who has breast cancer, has also been cared for at Myton. Loretta, who hopes to move on to a career as a solicitor, said: “We go to Myton every year for carols at Christmas. We really like it there and we appreciate what they do.”

It will also be the first time Curtis, who is studying an IT course at Warwickshire College, will have done a bungee jump - and the pair are being given the moral support and encouragement they will need from their dad David, who is joining them for the jump, which will take place over a lake in Tamworth on Sunday December 9.

Their mum Tina said: “I couldn’t do it - as much as I would love to. I’m really proud of them. It’s wonderful to do something in my mum’s memory. When she was at Myton, there was a five-year-old child who was terminally ill. It was so sad to see.

“People just assume that it’s for older people, but they care for people of all ages.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Loretta and Curtis can call the Franks on 491538.