A North Berwick man is preparing to honour the memory of his late sister by taking part in a skydive later this month.

Mark Sangster never met sister Kim, but next Sunday (September 21) he will take to the skies above Glenrothes and complete a life-long ambition as he takes part in the charity fundraiser.

The 29-year-old, who celebrates his 30th birthday just three days beforetaking part in the skydive, is raising money for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, where he spent five months of his childhood, and who also looked after his sister before she sadly passed away, aged just five, having battled meningitis.

Mark was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease which affects the heart muscles, when he was a child, and his mother explained to the Courier that he may have been faced with a heart transplant had his own heart not shown signs of healing.

Irene Galloway, Mark’s mother, said: “We knew we had the option of surgery or it would get better on its own and thankfully it got better on its own. He has never spoken much about it, because he either can’t remember it or he doesn’t want to relive it. It was a pretty hellish time.

“I’m really proud of him, though. It’s a big thing and the doctor has had to give him the all-clear. He is really looking forward to it.” However, Mark’s fundraising efforts take on an added, poignant cause as he will take to the skies on what would have been his late sister’s 40th birthday.

Kim, who passed away before Mark was born, was also nursed in the hospital and Mark believes it is a fitting tribute.

He said: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but I’m also doing it on the 21st, which would have been my sister’s birthday. I suppose it’s also a belated birthday present for myself and I’m really looking forward to it.” As a youngster, Mark and his family benefited from the generous fundraising of the people of North Berwick, with a sum believed to be in the region of £9,000 donated to help him get the treatment he needed as he battled cardiomyopathy.

While that money was not used for Mark exclusively, he now wants to give back to the hospital, and hopes the people of North Berwick will support him once more.

“I want to give something back to the Sick Kids after all they did for me,” he said.

Donate at justgiving.com/remember/145423/Kim--Sangster