A MUM is set to take to the skies to fundraise in aid of a special care baby charity after it helped her through her son’s premature birth.

Sherie Potter, from Tilbury, gave birth to Frankie four months premature in August 2013. He weighed just 1kg before being rushed to Homerton University Hospital’s intensive care unit, with Sherie having just a few minutes to meet her newborn son for the first time.

Now she’s getting ready to skydive 5,000 feet for the charity Bliss next month.

Reliving her son’s birth, Sherie said: “It was a nightmare. It was so scary seeing his tiny, tiny body under all those tubes. I couldn’t even hold my baby.”

She said the support and help from the charity had proved vital to ease her fears.

Sherie added: “When you’re in that situation, you feel like you’re isolated.

“I remember a Bliss volunteer said ‘you’re still a mum’ and gave me advice on practical things I could do to help Frankie.”

He is now a thriving young boy and will celebrate his second birthday next month. However, he suffers from chronic lung disease.

Sherie said: “Frankie wasn’t born in a normal way, so I felt I had to do something a bit different. I’m not even nervous about the skydive, which is scary.”

Caroline Davey, chief executive of Bliss: “I wish Sherie the best of luck taking on this incredible challenge. The vital funds raised by people like Sherie will help us improve the lives of the 80,000 sick babies born in the UK each year.”

Sherie’s skydive will take place in Reading on Sunday, August 9. To sponsor Sherie, visit just giving.com/Sherie-Potter