A GO-GETTING Greenock gran who is scared of escalators is preparing to jump 10,000ft out a plane with her son.

Brave Betty Bennett, 69, will take a leap of faith with her son George, 50, when they take to the skies for a tandem skydive in aid of Ardgowan Hospice today.

The daring duo have decided to take the plunge in memory of Betty’s four siblings who sadly passed away, and as tribute to George’s best friend, who lost his battle against leukaemia.

Betty of Ann Street, told the Tele: “I’ve never done anything like this before.

“I don’t even like going down escalators, I always have to find a lift instead.

“But I have something in me which is making me go for this.

“I’m desperate to go and do it as it’s a once in a lifetime thing.

“I just want to do this before my time comes.”
Betty was inspired to take on the challenge after being left heartbroken by the loss of four of her siblings.

Her younger brother Teddy Doherty, 50, passed away back in 1999 after a courageous battle against oesophageal cancer.

Six years later, her sister Myra Magee, 69, lost her fight against breast cancer and a mere six months later her other sister Rita Gavin, 67, died from lung cancer.

While Betty was still grieving, her brother John Doherty was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and passed away just over two years ago.

Betty said: “It was a terrible time but Ardgowan Hospice were an incredible support and helped us.

“Teddy was cared for at the hospice and that was when we really discovered how good the hospice was.

“The care they gave him was amazing, which is why we’re so keen to give something back to them.”

She added: “Both Myra and Rita were cared for at home by the hospice nurse Maureen Anderson.

“She was really good with them both and the hospice also helped by providing them with transport up to the hospital. It was a bad time but the hospice supported us through that.”

Betty’s son George, who lives with his wife Karen in Port Glasgow’s Westray Avenue said he was shocked when his mum announced she was going to do a skydive.

But after losing his best friend James Roe, 52, to leukaemia, he also decided to join in and remember his pal by signing up for the flying feat along with his mum.

He said: “I thought my mum was off her head when she said she was going to do a skydive but I’ve decided to do it too.

“I lost my best friend James to leukaemia two years ago.

“The hospice supported him by taking him up and down to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

“So I want to do something for the hospice too.”

George and Betty, who has two other grown-up children, Edward and Michelle Dowds, as well as three grandchildren – Jack, Lucy and Callum – will each have an instructor by their side when they do the skydive in Perth.

While the pair take to the skies, Betty’s 70-year-old husband, who is also called George, will be watching them from the ground alongside Betty’s sister Jeanette McArthur.

Betty’s other sister Vera McCormack will cheer them on at home with all their other family members.

George snr said: “I think what they are doing is brilliant.

“I never ever thought Betty would do something like this.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Betty and George can do so online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/George-Bennett5