A FATHER whose baby daughter died six years ago from meningitis has taken to the skies for charity.

John O’Gorman’s daughter, Ellie Mai, died aged just eight weeks old in 2008 after she contracted meningitis shortly after being born.

She had spent several happy weeks at home with her parents in Breightmet before falling ill.

Her parents, both teenagers at the time, were forced to make the heart-wrenching decision to switch off her life-support machine on October 6 as doctors told them it was Ellie Mai’s “time to go”.

Mr O’Gorman, aged 25, and Ellie-Mai’s 23-year-old mum, Steph Gornall, have since worked to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis so other young parents do not go through the same trauma.

Now Mr O’Gorman and his brother-in-law, John Millington, have taken part in a skydive in the Lake District and raised more than £1,000.

He said: “We were very keen to do this, in memory of my daughter. I’m scared of heights and it was funny looking out of the window as we went up.

“But it was amazing and I would love to do it again.

“A lot of people have been sponsoring us and it is great they were so generous.

“We have exceeded our target of £1,000, which is fantastic.”

Mr O’Gorman and Ms Gornall have set up Ellie Mai O’Gorman’s Forever Fund with the Meningitis Now charity.

Mr O’Gorman and Mr Millington, who is from Little Lever, spent six weeks fundraising before completing their plunge above Grange-over-Sands in the Lake District.

Their current fundraising tally stands at £1,151.

To support Mr O’Gorman and donate to Meningitis Now, text EMOG78 and £1, £2, £5 or £10 to 70070.

Alternatively, to donate online to Ellie Mai’s Forever Fund, go here.