A 74-year-old nurse who struggled to pay the bills after retiring has now jumped over 13,000 feet out of a plane to raise money for other elderly people facing financial hardship.

Thabani Sithole, a former paediatric nurse, has singlehandedly raised almost £1,000 for Independent Age, a charity which supports and advises older people facing financial hardships.

But for Ms Sithole, the challenge took on a personal meaning after she had to receive help from the charity herself in 2021 after retiring at age 70 due to her arthritis.

Independent Age was able to help her access support she didn't know she was entitled to.

“Before I got the help from Independent Age it was a desperate, desperate time,” said the former nurse, who now lives with her daughter in London.

“We had so many problems – where to get food from, how to pay the bills, gas and electric going up and paying council tax too.

“The house was very cold – we wore extra clothes and covered ourselves in blankets.

The former paediatric nurse retired to a cold house and neverending money worries.The former paediatric nurse retired to a cold house and neverending money worries. (Image: PA)

“But they helped me claim Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance which was a big relief and even helped me fill out the forms which was a huge help.

"Now I get an extra £800 a month and I feel like I’m finally in control again.”

The 74-year-old chose to let older people struggling with their finances know “that even in old age, you don’t have to suffer alone”.

Arriving at Netheravon Airfield, in Wiltshire, on Friday, August 30, she could not be more thrilled to take the jump.

“You fall down first from the plane and when the parachute comes up, that’s when you think, ‘okay, what’s going on?" she said.

“All I could see were the clouds, then you wave and you blow kisses.”

Thabani Sithole says she was thrilled to jump from the planeThabani Sithole says she was thrilled to jump from the plane (Image: PA)

Joanna Elson CBE, chief executive of Independent Age, has congratulated Ms Sithole, adding: “On behalf of the whole charity I want to thank Thabani for this inspiring fundraising effort.

“Thabani’s story demonstrates the plight of so many older people in this country, and I’m so glad we were able to help her access the support she is entitled to.

“With 2.1 million older people already living in poverty and millions more facing financial hardship, our work has never been more important.

“Nobody in later life should be facing money worries alone or feel ashamed of asking for help.”

Her fundraiser remains active for anyone who is willing to make a last-minute donation.

To donate, justgiving.com/page/t-sithole-1695936440792.