AN INCREDIBLE weight-loss has been achieved — to fulfil a charity skydive.

Dennis Dance has lost nearly nine stone, dropping from 24st to nearly 15st, to enable him to take on the challenge in honour of his late mother.

Monika Dance died at just 55, five years ago, and her son wanted to raise money for Macmillan.

Dennis, 35, of Newport, decided to take on his greatest fear, heights, by doing a skydive, but was told he couldn't do it because the maximum weight allowed was 15st.

He weighed 24st, so rather than give up his dream, he used it as the catalyst to change his whole lifestyle and shed some weight.

He started by tackling his mental health issues and anxiety, after which he was able to get a job in healthcare, like his mum.

He now does community care work and is on the bank at St Mary's Hospital as a healthcare assistant.

He said: "With this type of work, the reward is huge. My end goal is now to become a mental health nurse.

"I've been through hell and back the last few years but I went through therapy and it was superb and I am now medication free.

"However my therapy is ongoing and I will likely fight anxiety for years to come.

"I don't want to come across as a martyr, but if my own battles can help others, that's awesome."

Dennis, a father of two, then set about losing weight, through exercise and the keto diet, and is currently at 15st 4lb.

He said: "My diet has given me something positive to focus on. At Christmas I was 21st so it has been a big change.

"I'm aiming to have lost the remaining weight by the end of the year and to do the skydive in 2020."

His father-in-law Nigel Pearce, who is registered blind and has MS, is aiming to do the skydive with him.

To donate to Dennis' Macmillan appeal, go to tinyurl.com/y5s4r7xu