WEYMOUTH’S carnival queen is embracing her role and doing her bit for the community.

Natalie Round, 25, won the title of carnival queen last August and has tried to be more than just a glamorous figurehead.

The architectural technician of Franklin Road, Weymouth, has got involved in various events over the past year and is now planning to jump from 13,000 feet for charity.

She is undertaking the nail-biting challenge to raise money for two local good causes, Rushton Dog Rescue and the Weymouth RNLI Lifeboat.

On August 4 she will jump out of a plane as part of a tandem skydive with the Red Devils display team in Wiltshire.

She said: “I’ve never done anything like this before and thought it was the most challenging thing I could do as I’m not the best at heights.

“I wanted to raise money for Weymouth-based Rushton Dog Rescue, which is run single-handedly run by Cindi McNeil-Regan, where she rescues dogs around the Dorset area from some very unpleasant situations.

“I’m a dog lover and have known Cindi for a few years. She is an inspiration and needs all the help she can get to continue this tremendous job of rescuing dogs.

“I think it’s very important that a small Weymouth charity is recognised, especially within the town it benefits.”

Rushton Dog Rescue do home checks and follow up checks for prospective new dog owners and all the money to fund this comes from the rescues own pockets.

Natalie said she chose to support Weymouth Lifeboat because they were a ‘very important charity’ in Weymouth.

She said: “The volunteer crew do such a remarkable job. I recently spent a day at sea with them and could see at first hand just how skilful and dedicated they are.”

Natalie said she thought it was important duty of hers as carnival queen to try and raise as much money and awareness of local charities as possible.

She said: “I’m hoping to raise £2,000 to be divided equally between the two charities. I know every penny counts for both of these worthwhile charities, so please give generously.”

Coxswain of Weymouth lifeboat, Andy Sargent said he was delighted that Natalie had chosen to donate to the RNLI. He said: “It’s brilliant. It’s great she’s doing to support us, it’s fantastic.

“The money will go to the branch funds and used for the general running of the station.”

Natalie has set up two online donation pages, one for each charity. She said she is hoping that people will be generous and donate equally between the two causes.

To donate to Rushton Dog Rescue visit www.justgiving.com/ WeymouthCarnivalQueenRushton and to donate to Weymouth Lifeboat visit www.justgiving.com/ WeymouthCarnivalQueenRNLI