An 82-year-old woman raised more than £1,000 when she stood on the wings of a plane as it flew through the skies for charity.

Mary Crocker from Billericay took part in a wing walk to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice.

Mrs Crocker’s husband attended the day unit at the hospice while was battling cancer. She said: “He was always naughty and teasing the staff.”

Mary now receives updates from the charity which prompted her to apply for the wingwalk in Upminster.

She said; “They needed someone to do it, so I did it. It was in memory of my husband.”

Mrs Crocker’s incredible actions raised about £1,100 for the hospice to put towards their round-the-clock care.

Explaining how she made it through the event on September 24, Mrs Crocker said: “It was by the power of prayer that I got onto the plane. They told me there was a ladder but when I got there, it was a six-inch step to get me onto the wing. All the people from my local church were praying for me as well.

“Once I got up there is was fine. I wish we could have travelled further than the airfield because you just end-up seeing the same thing over.

“I don’t know exactly how high it was but it was quite high I think. Someone was filming us up there and in the there were points where you couldn’t see the plane.”

Mrs Crocker is quite the daredevil, having walked on fire last year to raise money for alzheimer’s research and completed a parachute jump for her 80th birthday, the year before.

She said: “I’d do it again. I did a parachute jump for my 80th birthday which I loved. I’d do any of them again.”

Mrs Crocker was diagnosed with arthritis 20 years ago and then had an accident which left her with restrictions with certain activities, but it hasn’t stopped her.

She said: “I have a very kind doctor who goes along with it all. She checks me over and often sponsors me.

“When I was young they didn’t do things like parachute jumps and wing-walking but I’ve always fancied it.”

Mrs Crocker’s modesty is inspiring, although she doesn’t agree. She said: “No I’m not, the people I do it for are amazing. If I can do something to help somebody then I will. We were put on this earth to care for other people.”

She added: “I’m thankful to my family and Christ Church, Billericay who make it all possible for me to do these things.”

St Luke’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for people living with any life-threatening, life-limiting disease. Care and support is offered through a wide range of services that are tailor made to meet the needs of individuals.

Jo Lucas, 43 is the community fundraiser at St Luke’s Hospice, she said: “Mary is an amazing woman, at 82 to be able to stand on the wings of a plane thousands of feet in the air is just amazing.

“All of the others that participated are also amazing, it’s a for such a great cause. But at 82 what an incredible thing to do. ”