RAISING money has never been more hair-raising than the route three Monmouthshire women took recently for charities close to their hearts.

Olive Dicks and Tracey Guest from Chepstow, along with their friend Denise Quarrington from Abergavenny took to the skies on the wing of an aircraft to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and Parkinson’s UK.

Olive explained it was her colleague’s idea to “do something crazy” as all three had family members who benefit from the two charities.

“My husband Fred lives with Alzheimer’s and so does Denise’s mum,” said Olive. “Tracey’s brother Cliff is poorly with Parkinson’s and it was her idea to wing walk,” she added.

Olive continued: “It was amazing, we were leaning back, strapped to a plank on the aircraft and took to the skies for a 15 minute ride which went by really quickly. Even with all the twists and the turns, I didn’t feel anything, although Tracey did a double loop the loop!

All three had local sponsorship for the Cirencester event: Olive was sponsored by Andrew Hicks of Keen Attachments Ltd in Portskewett, Denise was sponsored by Heronhurst Windows and Tracey’s sponsor was MAP Carpentry and Joinery.

It was just part of their fundraising efforts for the two charities as they have been busy raising money throughout the year.

Tracey and Olive held an event at Burnt Barn in Bulwark where members of Olive’s family bravely stepped forward to help them with their funds.

“My son-in-law, Keith Morgan had his hairy chest waxed and my grandson, Daniel Dicks, who is over from Australia, had his long hair cut by patrons who paid £5 to snip locks of his hair off. They added £320 to our total,” added Olive.

Two of her grandchildren, Jack and Lewis, pictured left with Olive and Fred, have also done sponsored walks over the Severn Bridge.

Some of the funds have already been donated to local causes as Olive explained: “We gave £500 to a new art and music class in Chepstow Hospital devoted to helping Alzheimer’s sufferers, organised by Shaun Ray; the money will be used to help buy paint brushes and material for the class.

The three intrepid fundraisers have already topped their target, raising over £8,000 to date.

Olive’s Alzheimer’s Society page is: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/olive-ray-dicks or to support Tracy’s Parkinson’s page, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tracy-guest1.