AS an Army paratrooper, Mark Thomas faced death many times in war zones.

But the retired major from Long Eaton, who served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, was overcome by a brain tumour.

He died in December, three years after retiring from the Army to become a project manager on a building scheme in Abu Dhabi.

His widow Deborah said it was "devastating" to watch his decline after his diagnosis.

But months after his death she has now raised money in his memory by performing a charity skydive.

The jump at Brackley airfield near Oxford, which took place on Sunday, was part of a Brain Tumour UK skydiving day for the staff and families of Specsavers.

The 48-year-old said: "Mark had always wanted me to do a jump, but I always said no.

"But I heard about this sponsored jump and it was as if Mark was telling me to go for it.

"It feels that if I can do this, I can face the rest of my life."

Mark served with the Army in the Royal Engineers for 26 years and he was in 9 Para squadron attached to 3 Para in the Falklands War.

He served with the Royal Engineers in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded an MBE for his services.

Deborah and the couple's youngest son, Matthew, 21, first became worried about his health in June 2009.

They were on their way to Abu Dhabi to spend two weeks with Mark, when she got a phone call from her husband's boss, saying he had suffered a stroke at work.

He was released from hospital, but a week later was back after suffering severe headaches and vomiting.

It was only after Mark was transferred to a third hospital that a neurosurgeon told the family the devastating news that Mark had a brain tumour.

A neurosurgeon at the Queen's Medical Centre later diagnosed the tumour as a grade four glioblastoma – the most aggressive form of brain tumour.

He gave Mark between nine months and two years to live.

Two more operations and several radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions had no impact on the tumour and Mark returned home to spend his last days with his family.

By this time, he had lost the vision in his left eye and sometimes lost control of the left side of his body.

Deborah said: "He would struggle with the simplest things such as walking and feeding. It was devastating to watch this strong, independent man becoming like a baby."

Mark died on December 14, with his wife and sons Matthew and Joshua, 23, at his bedside.

Deborah said: "The boys are doing their dad proud. They are level headed, brave lads.

"For me it is harder. The rest of my life has been taken away from me. The loss is huge."

Brain Tumour UK provides support, funds research and raises awareness of the condition.