WHEN the family of Sallie-Ann Lane received a phone call last year to say a member of the family had died they all thought it was her.

This was because after a 14-year drug and alcohol addiction her family were waiting for a phone call like that.

However, the phone call referred to her older brother Scott Lane, who was hit by a car and killed while walking home in Norfolk in February last year.

Now Sallie-Ann, who is a year sober, is jumping 10,000 feet out of a plane to raise money for the road safety charity Brake, which helped her family through the tragedy.

“I wanted to do something to thank Brake for all the support it has given our mum Sharon during the hardest time of her life, losing her first born baby boy,” said Sallie-Ann, who lives in Bath Road, Stroud, but is originally from London.

“Mum was given the Brake support pack via her police family liaison officer and it was absolutely invaluable to her and helped us all to come to terms with what happened after his death.”

Brake is a national charity that cares for road crash victims through a helpline and support literature.

The charity also campaigns for safer streets and engages communities and schools in road safety awareness.

Sallie-Ann, 26, will be taking part in a tandem skydive in memory of Scott, who was just 26 when he died, in Swindon on Saturday.

However the jump will also commemorate another landmark moment in her life, a year of sobriety.

“After receiving the news of Scott’s death, I made the decision to get sober and checked myself into a rehab facility,” said Sallie-Ann, who has been addicted to drugs and alcohol since the age of 11.

“I knew that I didn’t want my mum to have to go through losing another child.”

Sallie-Ann is hoping to raise £500 for the charity.

“I know that I can never do anything to bring Scott back, but I can do things to celebrate his memory,” she added.

“By fundraising for Brake it will ensure that any other families who find their world tragically ripped apart by road crashes can receive the support my mother did.”

Beth Kaminski, Brake’s community fundraising officer, said “Brake wouldn’t be able to continue its life-saving work without brave volunteers like Sallie-Ann who get involved and fundraise for the charity.

“Every penny raised will be put towards our work supporting families whose lives have been devastated by a road crash and also campaigning for safer roads.

“Skydives are just one of the many ways that people can help Brake and we are always keen to hear from people who would like to get involved.”

Go to www.brake.org.uk for information. To sponsor Sallie-Anne, go to www.justgiving.com/Sallie-Sunshine.