Multiple sclerosis may have forced Ian Williams out of work and into a wheelchair but it has failed to dent his sense of adventure.
The 33 year old, from Alma Place, Sebastopol, defied his illness to leap from an aeroplane 10,000 feet - more than two miles - above the Wiltshire countryside.
Strapped to an experienced parachutist, the father-of-two completed the jump at a centre near Swindon to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, a charity he says has helped him to come to terms with his condition.
"It was fantastic, just amazing," said Mr Williams, for whom the jump was third time lucky, as two jumps scheduled for earlier this month had to be cancelled due to poor weather.
"My dad, my wife Sharon and my children (Martin and Adam) were there and that was a big support. It went like a dream."
Mr Williams, a regular at the New Inn-based weekly drop-in centre run by the Cwmbran and District branch of the MS Society, has raised £1,100 for the society and hopes a few hundred pounds more is still to come.
"I'd set myself a target of £1,000 so I've passed that and I'm really pleased," he said.
"It was so exhilarating that in some ways I don't feel like I've come down yet."
Mr Williams was diagnosed with MS six years ago. His condition is currently being stabilised by the chemotherapy treatment mitoxantrone, which last year he had to campaign for the right to receive, following a wrangle over funding.
Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Ian Williams did a parachute jump in aid of the MS Society