Councillor to skydive for mental health charity

A councillor is to jump out of a plane to raise money for a men's mental health charity.

Elvis Stooke, a member of South Kesteven District Council, will complete a tandem skydive in aid of the Grantham Bhive Place2Bee club.

The club provides somewhere for men to meet to discuss their issues in confidence with each other and with volunteer staff members.

The skydive is due to take place at Sibson Aerodrome, near Peterborough, on Friday 19 July.

Mr Stooke, who represents Belmont Ward in Grantham, vowed to support a local charity when he was elected in 2023 and said he was "particularly struck" by the Bhive group.

"I'll be dealing with just one hour of fear – and believe me, heights is one of my biggest fears," he said.

"But this pales into insignificance compared with what some people face every day to simply lead what we might call a normal life."

A previous attempt by Mr Stooke to complete the challenge was cancelled on the morning of the jump due to bad weather.

"I would ask anyone who can afford it to help me get closer to my £5,000 target," he said.

"If these men can get through each day with their issues, I'm sure I can parachute out of a plane for their future."

Follow BBC Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastyorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk