Robbie Walsh and Ian Williams taking to the skies for charity Contact

Jockey Robbie Walsh has persuaded his boss Ian Williams and around a dozen others to join him in a charity skydive next month in aid of Contact, the charity for families with disabled children.

Walsh, 32, rides on the Flat as a professional claimer after a career interrupted by serious injuries, and he has a five-year-old son named Leighton who has a very rare and life-threatening condition.

"I was contacted by the charity and I know just what it's like for these families, so I decided I would do what I could for them for the next couple of years," Walsh said.

"I decided to get the ball rolling by doing a skydive for them on September 29 at Langar near Nottingham. Myself, the boss Ian Williams, conditional Charlie Todd and about ten others from the stable are due to jump.

"We've got a Just Giving page which is in my name to keep it simple. It hasn't really taken off yet, so any contributions will be greatly appreciated."

Walsh suffered a fractured skull in 2006 and has had some bad breaks since, so reckons he has missed around eight years of his career through injury. The latest setback came in the Brocklesby at Doncaster in March.

He said: "I punctured a lung, broke ribs and suffered internal bleeding, so that set me back a bit, but I rejoined Ian Williams, who had been with a couple of years earlier. I then rode at the boycotted meetings, but I don't think that affected my career."

Ian Williams: participating in the charity skydiveCredit: Dan Abraham

Walsh added: "Ian is supporting me now and other trainers are starting to as well, but this week I had four rides I couldn't take because Leighton hasn't been great. Whether I can afford it or not, I down tools when Leighton is taken bad."

While Walsh did a skydive a few years ago in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, it will be a first for Williams.

The trainer said: "I haven't thought about it much, so I'm not too fearful of the idea. Perhaps that will come nearer the time, but in any case it will be good practice for me as I'm looking forward to taking a flight with Robert Cowell when he gets his pilot's licence and I want to be fully prepared!"

To donate for Walsh's skydive visit: