Earlier this month, Greg Morrison found himself dangling off sheer cliffs at Grosnez. This weekend he is going to jump out of a plane and skydive to the beach at the Gunsite.
Greg, who is Construction Director at ROK Construct, has set himself a year-long personal challenge to raise money for the Jersey Employment Trust.
Since the start of the year he has been completing Parkruns, he has a half-marathon to complete in September, and he will take part in the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon the following month. His calendar also includes taking part in the triathlon in June and learning to ride a horse for a dressage event in July.
This Sunday, at 11.30 am, he will do a skydive.
“The abseil was not only terrifying at times but extremely difficult in so far as having to rock-climb back out,” he said. “It was the most adrenalin-pumped experience I have ever had over a two-and-a-half-hour period, and probably the toughest thing I have ever done.
“It was sheer determination to get myself back out and at times I was literally pulling my body up the side of the cliffs. So apart from being exhausted, with cuts and bruises, and plenty of aches and pains, it was worth it for a great cause.”
The challenge was completed thanks to his work colleague Nick Michel, a quantity surveyor and qualified abseiling instructor. At one point during the 35m drop, the wind was also pushing against him.
As for this weekend’s skydive, people are telling Greg that it should be easier than the abseil. “I don’t know,” he says, “but at least I will be attached to someone and with my job I am all right with heights, though not usually as high as for jumping out of a plane.”
Greg wants to raise awareness of the charity’s work as well as raising valuable funds. He would like to help buy a van for Acorn, the reuse and training enterprise run in association with JET. The van will be used to transport items brought to the Household Reuse and Recycling Centre at La Collette to the Acorn Reuse Centre in Trinity. It is also hoped it will be used to carry out home collections.
Greg is passionate about JET’s work and has a long-standing connection with the charity. He has seen for himself the work that JET do in securing work and placements for its clients. Greg has also served as an adviser on the board of trustees.
Greg said: “I truly admire the support that the Jersey Employment Trust offers some of the most vulnerable members of our community and hope to continually raise awareness of their work.”
