Insanity For Charity

Westlife Star Puts Best Foot Forward For Skydive

DAREDEVIL wannabe Kian Egan insisted that he would be first to jump from a plane three miles up in his debut freefall skydive at the Irish Parachute Club in Co Offaly this week.

The Westlife singer, who ignored a plea from girlfriend Jodi Albert not to go flying without wings, agreed to the charity jump with pals though it will be his first-ever attempt.

"I want Jodi to be there", said Kian. "And lots of fans too."

He said that by the time Jodi and his mum tried to talk him out of the dive it was too late to pull out even if he wanted to. He had already announced that he was doing the jump to raise funds for victims of two recent earthquakes and a tsunami on Indonesia's main island, Java.

"Whatever fears I may have about the jump it's nothing compared to the ribbing I would have to take if I didn't do it," he said.

Westlife colleagues Nicky Byrne, Mark Fehily and Shane Filan have agreed to sponsor the jump at Clonbulloge to the tune of €1,000 each. They were moved to help the people of Java after the islanders helped them last year when a friend of Kian's injured a leg while on holiday there.

The fund has a website, www.sirf.org.