ZIPPING down a wire at 50mph is not your average 85-year-old’s cup of tea.

But Gladys Lander was determined to take on the challenge at Adrenalin Quarry – and flying down the 400m wire alongside her was her great great niece, five-year-old Grace Jordan.

Next to zoom down were her niece Lindsey Fort and Lindsey’s brother-in-law, Tom Hurdwell.

Gladys, who is known to many of her friends as May, took on the zip ride as a fund-raiser for the MS Society.

Four years ago she lost her son, Alan, to Multiple Sclerosis, and her elder son Paul is now being treated for the condition.

Gladys is fund-raising because she doesn’t want anyone else to go through the things she has experienced, said her great niece, Carolyn Hurdwell.

Carolyn, like many of the family, lives in Trewidland, the village where Gladys was born and grew up.

The active octogenarian has also done a half-mile swim for the MS Society. And when she is feeling not quite so energetic, she knits items to sell for the charity.

A large family group were gathered at the far side of the lake to cheer the zip riders  in.

Her Just Giving page now stands at around £135.

To read Gladys’ story and support her fund-raising for the MS Society visit www.just giving.com/may-lander