A 61-YEAR-OLD is to throw herself out of a plane to raise cash and awareness for the incurable illness that has ruined her life.

Margaret Joyce, of Stanford in the Vale, was diagnosed with Lupus 14 years ago and has suffered from extreme tiredness and joint pain ever since.

Ms Joyce, of Van Diemans, said: “I am often told I do not look ill but I am cringing inside with pain.

“I get so tired sometimes I can hardly stay awake – it is a dreadful disease.”

Before her illness, Ms Joyce used to work as a special needs teacher at Abingdon and Witney College. She now has to walk with sticks or a frame.

She said: “It has changed my life dramatically.

“I used to be really outgoing and always helping other people.”

The mother-of-two now lives alone with her dog Woody and takes ten different drugs a day.She said: “Life is a struggle.”

Ms Joyce hopes to raise more than £1,000 for St Thomas’ Lupus Trust for doing the sky dive on August 20 at Hinton Sky Diving Centre, Brackley, Northamptonshire. She said: “Every penny I raise will go towards research.”

And she said of the jump: “I am absolutely petrified about it but I have got to do it – something has to be done to find a cure.”

Lupus UK supports and advises people with the disease.

Director Chris Maker said: “It is a brave person who undertakes a sky dive, particularly one suffering from a long term debilitating condition such as lupus.”

To donate, visit justgiving.

com/margaret-joyce