A DAREDEVIL Bankie pensioner marked her 80th birthday with a zip wire ride across the Clyde to raise cash for cancer patients.

Jean Ewing, from Hardgate, flew across the river on Sunday, just six days after her birthday, having told family she wanted “to do something different” to celebrate.

She declined birthday gifts and instead asked for donations to Cancer Support Scotland and raised about £1,000 for her efforts.

Jean was among 50 fundraisers who dropped 150ft from a platform next to the Finnieston Crane, including former BBC and STV newsreader Viv Lumsden and staff from the Glasgow office of law firm Dallas McMillan.

Jean said: “I’ve never done anything like this before but after hearing Cancer Support Scotland’s community fundraiser, Gwen Mosson, talk about the charity and the way people can help support it, I decided this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a bit of a different way to celebrate my birthday.

“I know the charity works hard in the local community and also that it depends on public generosity to fund its work.”

Jean’s son, Charles, added: “The whole family are really proud of my mum. We always knew she was kind and compassionate, and now we know she is a little mad too, and brave.

“It’s a great way to celebrate her 80th and the whole family are behind her.”

Colin Graham, chief executive of Cancer Support Scotland, said: “Jean is a marvel and it’s fantastic that she took on this challenge to raise money for us.

“We’re grateful to all the fundraisers for their support. We get no government funding and rely on the generosity of the public through their donations, fund-raising efforts and time to allow us to help so many people with the one-to-one counselling and complementary therapy services we provide.”

Visit cancersupportscotland.org to support their work.