A TALENTED teenager who battled a brain tumour before excelling in his GCSEs will undertake a charity skydive on his 17th birthday.

Former Goole High School pupil Marcus Trinder, 16, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September 2010, after he was seen at the opticians following spells of dizziness and headaches.

Marcus and his friend Jonathan Drinkwater, 18, will now take part in a skydive in Bridlington on Saturday, August 25, to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation, which makes dreams come true for young people battling life-threatening illnesses.

After being diagnosed and undergoing extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy while in Year 11 at Goole High School, Marcus missed a lot of school recovering from his treatment.

But he still achieved three As, one B and two Cs in his GCSEs, and achieved 100 per cent in his biology exam. He is now studying physics, maths, electronics and computer science and is hoping to continue his studies at the University of Manchester.

Marcus, from Hook, near Goole, has a fear of heights and is feeling slightly anxious about the jump.

He said: “We are hoping to raise at least £500 from the jump; I have always wanted to give something back to Make A Wish after they sent me to CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, which was my dream place to visit.

“I am really scared of heights so this is going to be a big challenge for me, but I do like an adrenaline rush so hopefully I’ll be okay.”

Marcus has regular scans every three months to check that the cancer has gone, since being given the all clear last year, and says he is feeling better than ever.

To sponsor Marcus and Jonathan visit their fundraising webpage at justgiving.com/Jonathan-Drinkwater411 or sign their sponsor form in Goole High School reception.