A balloonist is set to smash the world female altitude record, raising vital cash for Oxfam. Lindsay Muir will attempt to climb to 34,000 feet in a hot air balloon, in Cuneo, Italy, on February 2. The current record stands at 33,669 ft. The stunt has been organised in association with the UK’s largest passenger carrying hot air balloon company, Virgin Balloon Flights, who will donate £10 from every balloon flight sold on the back of Lindsay’s attempt to Oxfam.

Lindsay, of Bishops Castle, Shropshire, says she can’t wait to jump in her balloon basket and escape into the clouds:

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do. Altitude record attempts present some of the biggest challenges. I’ll be climbing extremely high and I’m itching to get going.”

It’s a question of second time lucky for Lindsay, whose stab at the record was scuppered by the Italian authorities in 2004.

And the two-hour attempt is not without its complications. Lindsay must carry oxygen in the balloon basket as well as a barograph to ensure – crucially – she reaches the required height.

She’ll also have to contend with freezing temperatures as she climbs higher than the summit of Mount Everest.

If she’s successful, the record will add to an already impressive catalogue of successes – Lindsay is twice British national champion and four times women’s world champion balloonist. She also holds the women’s world duration record having completed a 19-hour flight from Kent to France.

Lindsay says she’s delighted to be making her record attempt in aid of Oxfam:

“Oxfam is a charity very close to my heart and I’ll be looking to raise as much as I can for them. Ballooning is a truly magical experience, now, thanks to Virgin Balloon Flights, people who call Virgin and quote ‘record’ will be helping to raise vital money for people living in poverty throughout the world.”

Lindsay’s husband Graham Hallett, a former pilot himself, says he has learned to live with Lindsay’s wild ballooning adventures:

“No matter what I say she’d probably do it anyway – anything Lindsay wants to do, she does. She’s been ballooning almost 20 years, she’s very experienced and she loves it.”

Virgin Balloon Flights’ managing director Damian Brockway added:

“Virgin Balloon Flights flies thousands of UK passengers a year at nothing like this kind of altitude – so this is a completely different kettle of fish!

“We are thrilled to be able to donate £10 of every balloon voucher sale to Oxfam.”