Dog-shy woman wing walks for canine organisation

Lucy Sladen completed the wing walk on Sunday

A woman who has a shyness around dogs has raised money for a canine non-profit organisation by facing another fear - wing walking.

Lucy Sladen, from Romney Marsh, braved the challenge in aid of her employer's sponsored non-profit, South East Dog Rescue.

She has so far raised £595 from her wing walk on a bi-plane, which took place on Sunday at Headcorn Aerodrome.

She said: "I have always been scared of most animals. I have never had a pet dog. This is my way of facing a fear head on."

Ms Sladen has been afraid of dogs since childhood and thinks it's because her parents "were always really wary of all animals - not just dogs".

"That translated through to myself growing up," she said.

Lucy Sladen volunteered to do the stunt as the only non-dog owner at her work

Despite her fear, she counts herself as an animal lover and hopes to overcome her shyness around them.

She added: "You can't escape from dogs - they are everywhere and they are just beautiful creatures."

Her employer, Ashford-based Three R's Recruitment, chose South East Dog Rescue, in Greenhithe, as its non-profit for the year.

'Absolutely terrifying'

While brainstorming ideas, Ms Sladen knew she wanted to do something "really big".

Her colleagues decided on a wing walk and as the only non-dog owner in the company, she volunteered to do the stunt.

While most people would shy away from extreme sports, she said she wasn't worried.

She said people might expect her to "get involved with dogs directly" to face her fears.

"But no, [I've done] something that others would consider absolutely terrifying!"