A SOUTHAMPTON teenager will be skydiving for the first time in aid of an animal charity.

Alana Briant will be freefalling 15,000ft with her friend Eliza Hubberstey at GoSkydive to help raise money for The Mayhew Animal Home.

The 17-year-old Sparsholt College student from Sholing will give all of the money raised towards Lovelies.help – a Facebook group which raises money for charities close to George Michael’s heart.

Alana and Eliza will help Lovelies.help fundraise for the kennel block to be refurbished at The Mayhew Animal Home, set to cost £10,000.

The kennel will be named the George Michael Kennel.

Alana said The Mayhew Animal Home kennel was not up to date and the charity relied on donations to give them some help.

She added: “George Michael is close to my family’s heart and this is something to keep his memory alive.”

The singer, who died in December 2016, helped raise money for The Mayhew Animal Home during his 2012 Symphonica Tour.

The pair will go to the GoSkydive site, on Old Sarum Park, for training with an experienced tandem master before skydiving on April 14.

The British Parachute Association training includes being kitted up in a tandem jumpsuit and fitted into a harness to practise the freefall and landing positions, while being supervised by an instructor.

Alana said: “For me it has always been on my bucket list and I thought if I don’t do it now then I never will. I am so scared, but doing it together will make it a lot easier.”

It will cost the girls approximately £300 each, giving them the chance to rush through the air at 125mph for 60 seconds.

Student Eliza, 16, from Devon, added: “I care a lot about animals and dogs, and I think they deserve a good environment to live in.”

The charity has worked for 17 years to change people’s attitudes towards animals, addressing causes of neglect, cruelty and abandonment.

To help Alana and Eliza reach their target of £1,000, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/skydive-for-mayhew.