A TEACHER is set to swap the whiteboard for the wings of a plane later this year.

Aylestone Federation Deputy Head Nigel O'Neil will be putting his life in the hands of aerobatic experts to perform a wing walk in the name of charity.

Mr O'Neil, who previously ran the London Marathon to raise funds for charity, will be joining a team of volunteer wingwalkers as they take to the skies on the wings of a Boeing Stearman biplane on October 2.

The daring team are hoping to raise £10,000 for Hereford's St Owen Street-based Breast Cancer Haven centre through donations of money and items for a charity raffle.

"Breast cancer has impacted on the lives of some of our wonderful colleagues within the Aylestone Federation of Schools, and we know throughout the network of other schools we work with in the Herefordshire Authority that it is a disease that is unfortunately all too common," Mr O'Neil said.

"There aren't many schools that won't be able to say that breast cancer has impacted on a colleague, patent, governor, friend of the school or someone within the community.

"And sometimes we forget that it is a disease that affects men as well as women.

"Strapping myself to a plane and going, literally, loop-de-loop is going to be very scary I have to admit, but to be diagnosed with breast cancer, the treatment and the way it impacts on your life and those loved ones around you takes more courage.

"So this wing walk is the least I can do to support, raise awareness and raise funds for, Breast Cancer Haven, Hereford."

Visit Mr O'Neil's fundraising page here

to make a contribution to his daredevil fundraiser, or to donate a raffle item.