Employees at Crowe Clark Whitehill are leaping at opportunities to raise funds for local causes.
A sponsored parachute jump by the Douglas audit firm’s Jackie Fergusson has raised ?520 for Crossroads Caring for Carers, while her colleague Evelyn Corrin has boosted Age Isle of Man’s funds by ?290 after taking part in the charity’s Leap of Faith at Maughold Head.
Ms Fergusson, 45, from Ramsey, said: ‘I’d always wanted to do a parachute jump and although it proved terrifying it was also tremendously exciting. I went to Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria to join about 20 others and was pleased that at the first attempt I was able to do the jump, as it can happen that the weather conditions can be too poor and the event has to be cancelled. After about 20 minutes being trained how to land you go up in the plane then wait your turn to jump, attached to your trainer, and for those three or four minutes as you’re descending you’re up “close and personal” to your trainer - mine was called Steve. The worst part is when you’re standing at the door of the plane ready to jump and it’s at that moment when I kept telling myself to “lose the terror”. The second worst part is once you’ve landed and your face looks like a boiled lobster, bright red from wind burn. My mum and dad were surprised when I told them I was going to do it…and very relieved when I’d completed it safely.’
Jackie said she’s developed ‘danger lust’ in her later life. ‘I’d like to go an Arctic exploration venture in 2013 or, if that’s not possible, perhaps I’ll do a sponsored run around the TT course.’
Her colleague, Evelyn Corrin, 62, from Onchan, shares Jackie’s sense of adventure. She said: ‘This was the first time I’d abseiled and it was great fun, although I would have liked to have had a second attempt, perhaps just to refine my technique a little. I’ve also been white water rafting on the Zambesi river and done some mountain climbing.
‘I enjoy these kind of things - although my sister thinks I’m mad - and I was delighted to have helped raise funds for Age Isle of Man. The charity does excellent work for older people. One of our directors, John Cowan, serves as Age Isle of Man’s treasurer and I’m pleased to be able to rent out 73 Circular Road, Douglas to the charity to use as its second-hand furniture shop.’
Director Phaedra Bird said: ‘Crowe Clark Whitehill is extremely supportive of colleagues’ fundraising efforts. In 2011 we raised in the region of ?2,500 for deserving causes through a whole programme of events, from cake baking to rather more adventurous exploits such as those so bravely accomplished by Jackie and Evelyn.’
Causes to have benefited from the firm’s support include Children in Need, Operation Christmas Child, Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support, RNLI, Isle of Man Adoption Service, Rebecca House, Royal British Legion poppy appeal and Movember.
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