A FATHER has celebrated his 90th birthday by going up in a glider and raising almost £1,000 for research into a rare condition suffered by his daughter.

Harry Davies’ daughter Holly Firth-Davies, 61, suffers from Lupus, an immune system illness.

Holly, from York, said she almost cried when her father told her he wanted to raise funds for Lupus UK through his 20-minute flight from the Wolds Gliding Club at Pocklington.

“Dad is an absolute hero – he was really brave,” she said.

“He wanted the flight for his birthday and asked me if I thought anyone would sponsor him.”

She said she suggested he might raise money for cancer or osteoporosis, as her mother Freda suffered from them before she died eleven years ago.

“He looked at me and said he wanted to do it for Lupus UK – and I nearly burst into tears,” she said.

“Dad reached more than his target before he even set off on the flight and we have had donations from people at my work and friends. The total has now reached £948.

“I think it is brilliant what he has done.”

She said she was diagnosed in 2015 after suffering from extreme fatigue and then developing an “horrendous” rash on her face. “The fatigue was terrible - I couldn’t move,” she said.

She said she self-diagnosed the condition by going on the Internet before seeing a doctor. She received treatment for the condition but there was no cure and, because it had made her photosensitive, she had to put Factor 50 sun tan cream on all the time and avoid sunshine and bright light.

Harry, a former army and police officer, of Pocklington, who flew to 2,000 feet, was cheered by his family as he came in to land and he said he was eager to experience another flight after first going on one 23 years ago.

He said afterwards: “It was brilliant – I loved every single minute of it. Just brilliant. I had only been in a glider once before on my 67th birthday.

“I couldn’t wait to get back in the air again after last time – I enjoyed every minute of it last time and couldn’t wait to do it again.”

He said he now wanted to do a bungee jump for his 100th birthday.

To donate to the appeal, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Harrygliderflight