THE sister of a 16-year-old with a devastating muscle-wasting condition is set to join 100 other daredevils kicking off the spring with a 10,000ft plunge, raising vital funds to develop potential treatments that could help him.

Louise Cook, from Callington, whose brother Jonathon has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, will be among those taking to the skies on February 28 at airfields across the country, to brave a fundraising skydive for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Make Today Count event.

Together they hope to raise £80,000 towards the charity's Duchenne muscular dystrophy research programme, through which leading scientists are working to tackle the condition.

Jonathon was diagnosed with the condition at the age of two. It causes muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasing and severe disability.

Louise, her family and friends have already raised £190 to back the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, through sponsorship with more to come.

Louise said: 'Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects Jonathon greatly. He always needs someone around him to help him with day to day activities. He struggles to get out and about, which makes socialising harder for him.

'Jonathon is really brave and he totally understands his disability. He is the one that always laughs and jokes about his disability and keeps smiling all the time, trying to make all of us laugh and keep us happy.

'The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is a charity very close to my heart and they do some amazing work so it's good to help raise some funds and awareness.

'I have always wanted to take part in a skydive and this fantastic opportunity came up. It would be brilliant for others to join me to help raise funds and awareness for such a good cause. I also think I'm going to need a bit of encouraging on the day to get on the plane!'

Aspiring daredevils wishing to join the group will be asked to raise £399 sponsorship for their efforts and can choose from a variety of skydive sites around the UK.

Those without a head for heights can also back the fundraising campaign by supporting other local Make Today Count events on the day.

Laura Crouch, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's regional development manager for the South West, said: 'Groundbreaking potential treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy are being developed by UK scientists and it is vital that the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is able to keep funding this work.

'Every Make Today Count skydiver who successfully raises their £399 target will fund three days of a leading scientist's research.

'Every day counts. Louise and others like her could help us to transform thousands of lives.'

To find out more about Make Today Count, visit http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/maketodaycount2014">www.muscular-dystrophy.org/maketodaycount2014 or to find out more about skydive locations across the UK, call the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's fundraising hotline on 0845 8729058.

To help Louise in her fundraising efforts go to http://www.justgiving.com/">www.justgiving.com/ louise-cook18