A TEACHER was given full marks by her pupils when she rounded off the school year by jumping out of a plane to help a hospice.

Rachel Mirfin,who teaches at Pickering primary school, was so touched by the support St Catherine’s Hospice gave her family when her mother was ill that she thanked the charity by taking part in a 10,000ft skydive.

Rachel was only 26 when her mother died of a brain tumour but said she never forgotten the help she and her family were given.

“The hospice made such a good job of looking after all of us,” she said.

“I could go to the hospice after work, I could phone any time, the staff even pulled out a sofa bed one night so I could stay.

“It’s the little things like that that make it bearable.”

Her father, Richard, was also touched by the care provided and became a hospice volunteer. He is a member of the team which maintains the hospice gardens.

Rachel said the children were very excited to hear of her jump.

“I’m known as a bit of an adrenalin junkie so it hasn’t come of much of a surprise to people,” she said.

“I’d be really grateful if people could support me and help raise as much as possible for Saint Catherine’s. I had such a good time. It was just beautiful.”

St Catherine’s still has places available for its Yorkshire Day parachute jump on August 1. Phone 01723-378406 for information.