A wheelchair-bound woman is braving a challenge at the UK’s highest abseil site to raise money for charity.

Jemma Collins, a maths teacher at Heathcote School and Science College in Chingford, will have to be carried up to the platform of the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in Queen Elizabeth Park, Stratford to then attempt to abseil down the 114.5 metre structure.

She said: "I completed a skydive nine years ago but I wanted to do something different and this was the biggest thing that I could find that I could take part in."

The 35 year-old was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy when she was just two. The condition is a rare, genetic neuromuscular condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of movement due to muscle wasting.

The abseil will mark the tenth anniversary since her father died. Jemma’s dad Roy died unexpectedly aged 62 from acute cardiac failure. He regularly raised money for the charity.

Miss Collins, from Ilford, said: "I want to raise awareness, as well as money, for a condition and charity very close to my heart. I hope I can get down all the way on my own.

"I’m looking forward to doing the abseil, but I am also a bit nervous because of the physical aspect of it.

"I’ve been told that it should be fine, but my condition is muscle weakness, so although I am not paralysed I am weak."

Her Skydive raised £3,500 but this time with her abseiling efforts she would like to raise more.

Currently Miss Collins has raised £1,500 which includes around £1,000 raised from a Christmas Jumper Day at Heathcote School in December last year.

To contribute to Jemma’s challenge for her abseil on Miss Collins is due to complete the abseil on April 13, visit her web page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jemmacollins91.