Darth Vader helping charity skywalker

3:58pm Wednesday 1st October 2008

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Darth Vader is helping a Croydon businessman skywalk for charity.

Super-villain David Prowse, from Croydon, is training Nick Lawson so that he can drop a few pounds in order to perform a tandem parachute jump for the Phab Kids project.

The charity, of which Mr Prowse is vice-president, organises holidays for disabled and non-disabled children.

Mr Lawson, president of the Croydon and District Society of Chartered Accountants, will jump from 12,000 feet, securely attached to an instructor. He will freefall for about 40 seconds before the parachute is opened.

Mr Lawson is hoping to raise £2,000 for the charity. He said: “It is a great opportunity to work with Phab, and to meet such an inspirational role model as Dave.

“Phab is a great charity which for more than 50 years has been bringing together people with and without disabilities, to learn from each other, and above all to have fun. It is a small charity with a big heart and every penny and every pound really does make a difference.”

Mr Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, was also in charge of training the late Christopher Reeve when he needed to bulk up for the Superman role.

• To sponsor Nick Lawson click here