POSTIE Mike Leaman has taken on a few challenges for charity in his time, but for his latest fundraising effort he is going into free-fall. The daredevil Newton Abbot postman, who delivers on Dartmoor, mainly in the Widecombe-in-the-Moor area, is about to take the plunge from 10,000 feet. His big stunt this time is in aid of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Mr Leaman is going to be strapped to an instructor for the 'tandem' parachute jump from Dunkeswell, near Honiton, on July 8. Before he can take to the air he has to shed one-and-a-half-stones – the extra weight probably the result of his recent visit to the Newton Abbot Beer Festival at Tuckers Maltings. With an instructor, he will be jumping out of the aircraft and free-fall for 8,000ft, then parachute for 2,000ft to land. 'I was press-ganged into it by Margaret Rogers, one of my customers on my rural round in Widecombe, who is the south west co-ordinator for the charity. 'I am also jumping with half-a-dozen other team members, one of whom is Ian Mayhew, another of my customers,' said Mr Leaman, who last year cycled across the Himalayas on a Royal Mail post office cycle, in aid of Mencap. Not content with that, the 47-year-old is organising a celebrity charity auction, at Leusdon Memorial Hall, Poundsgate, on Saturday, June 17. The auction is being run by Rendells auctioneers, assisted by Bob Grose of BBC's DIY SOS. He is now collecting 'lots' from businesses and establishments from Newton Abbot, Widecombe and Bovey Tracey to name but a few. 'We have some varied and unusual donations. Assisting me are the lads and ladies of the Widecombe Parish Social and Entertainment Club, without whom I could not have got this evening off the ground. They are organising the fully licensed bar, hog-roast and ticket sales,' he added. Providing the entertainment on the night is comedian Simon Guest, who does a good mickey take of Jethro, and there is music from the band Full Moon Fever. The aim of the evening is to try to raise as much as possible towards the £5,000 cost of training a hearing dog, coupled with the sponsored money brought in from the parachute jump. Tickets for the evening, which is for adults only, are £7 and are available by telephoning 01626 203583. Anyone who would like to sponsor the parachute jump or donate to the auction can contact Mr Leaman on the above number.