Some people might want to avoid taking risks this Friday 13th, but Bernard Morley from Newcastle-upon-Tyne is different.
At almost 70yrs old, the retiree is planning to jump out of a plane for the first time, in support of the Catholic aid agency, CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development).
Last year, Bernard took on the charity’s ‘Big Lent Walk’, where participants walk 200km over 40 days to help provide help and support for communities around the world.
This year, he wanted a new challenge.
“I thought, what’s sillier or what would have more effect? Skydiving is something I’ve always wanted to do. I looked on CAFOD’s website and saw someone who’d done the same sort of thing, so I did some investigating.”
Bernard, who retired 3 years ago, is rarely idle. He goes to the gym, cycles, helps at a couple of charities during the week on top of studying part-time for an Open University degree!
His 70th birthday, on 11th March, falls in the middle of Lent this year and Bernard spotted that coinciding his brave attempt with reaching that milestone might just give him an extra ‘lift’.
Around 30% of the UK population are thought to be superstitious, so it occurred to him that airfields might have more openings on Friday 13th. As luck would have it, he was right!
The Morley family are taking this latest adventure in their stride. His wife will be keeping her feet firmly on solid ground, as she is petrified of heights, but Bernard said she isn’t against him taking part.
“We’ve been married for 33 years. She definitely raised an eyebrow at first, but she’s been very supportive.”
Through the stunt, Bernard hopes to raise as much money as he can for CAFOD, which works in countries around the world, to bring hope and life to those who are struggling.
“It’s not right that wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few people. We seem to have lost something today that was there in my father’s generation. People are obsessed with wealth, while ignoring the fact that half the world doesn’t have access to clean water, and that just doesn’t square with my faith.”
“I’m a big fan of CAFOD, and I’m prepared to throw myself out of a plane to prove it! I’ve always liked how CAFOD helps to develop projects with local communities in other countries, supporting people to live sustainably where they are.”
Over 1,000 CAFOD supporters and hundreds of schools are following Bernard’s footsteps from 2025, and taking part in this year’s Big Lent Walk, which is now in its fifth year. Year 5 pupils at St Stephen’s Primary, in Newcastle are doing laps of the playground to reach their goal.
Meanwhile, Bernard is hoping his luck won’t run out and will be aiming high next Friday, as his latest fundraising attempt gets off the ground.
Just Giving page: Bernard Morley is fundraising for The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
To sign up for the Big Lent Walk, please visit: https://cafod.org.uk/fundraise/big-lent-walk
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