Do one thing every day that scares you. It’s a quote many of us have heard but 60-year-old Steve Morgan decided to take this to higher levels when he decided to walk along the wing of a plane flying at up to 110mph. Steve took on the challenge to add some thrill to his milestone birthday, as well as for the 99,000 seriously ill children and their families across the country.
“I was talking to my wife one evening about how I wanted to do something that might scare me a little as I turned 60. I don’t really know where the idea stemmed from but for some reason, I started to research the possibility of doing a wing walk. Once I had found a company that I could do it with, I put down a deposit before I had chance to change my mind!”
Why wing walk for Together for Short Lives?
Wing walking is the adrenaline-filled act of standing atop a plane whilst it takes off and flies hundreds of feet in the air at high speeds. When reality settled in for Steve, and he realised what a unique experience this would be, he decided that he wanted to use the opportunity to raise money for Together for Short Lives.
“No one in my life had done anything like this before, so after having previously done a sponsored walk for Together for Short Lives a few years ago, I decided I wanted to try and raise money for you once again because I really believe in the work you do.”
Preparing for flight and raising money
There’s no training involved in a wing walk, but it is important to ensure you’re in good health. This includes ensuring you’re within the weight limit, which is something Steve was mindful of. Leading up to the day, he not only had to keep himself healthy, but also had to encourage friends and family to donate.
“My friends and family have been very supportive. Especially for my family, as I have grandchildren and whilst we are lucky that they are all healthy, we did have a scare with one of them at one point, which I think helped us all to put ourselves in the shoes of the families Together for Short Lives help.”
The best part of flying high
Whilst for some, a wing walk may seem like a nightmare, for Steve, the whole experience was filled with excitement and adrenaline.
“The most exciting bit was getting up high and seeing the views, feeling the wind, turning, and descending while waving to my family.”
Remembering the why
For Steve, what started as a fun way to mark his milestone birthday of turning 60 soon turned into an admirable opportunity to raise money for a cause he truly believes in.
“It’s extremely hard to comprehend what these families are going through day to day, and I know I can’t buy them extra time with their loved ones, but I do hope to help them to make the most of the time they do have together with their children.”
-Steve, wing walker and Together for Short Lives fundraiser
Thanks to amazing people like Steve, families with seriously ill children will get the support they need. If you’ve been inspired to take on our own challenge, click the button below to find out how you can get involved.
