YOUNG and old are banding together to abseil down 10 storeys to raise money for Southend Hospital.

David Morgan, 15, from Basildon, along with others, including an 81 year old will scale the building for Tackle the Tower.

David decided to navigate his way down the 154ft tower block after seeing his mother complete it last year and insisting he could do it much quicker.

The Southend High School for Boys Year 11 pupil, who will be sitting 11 exams from Monday, May 16, said: “I’d take an abseil any day over a history exam. Doing the abseil will be a nice distraction and break from my revision, it will be nice to just clear my head on the morning of the abseil and concentrate on getting from the top to the bottom.”

David is raising money for the rehab and physio team at the hospital because, ever since he tore his hamstring when he was eight, he has always wanted to be a physiotherapist.

He said: “As soon as I found out the date, which was one day after my 16th birthday, I couldn’t wait to get signed up. I’m just so glad that I just sneaked in with the age limit and can raise money for a good cause.”

81-year-old David Grant, will also be joining in the abseil wearing a onesie featuring Grumpy from Snow White.

Dubbed Grumpy by his eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, the father of three, said: “Well, I’m used to heights, just not coming down under my own steam. I should have learned not to open mouth before engaging brain!”

Wife Julia, 75, and the family’s large extended family, grandchildren ranging from 11 to 35 and great-grandchildren from eight to 12 months - will be at the hospital’s Tackle the Tower event on Saturday, May 14 to cheer him on.

So persistent is his nickname that, at his 80th birthday last year, the Rayleigh couple’s brood even dressed up as the dwarves – the chief one being David himself!

To sponsor David Morgan, visit www.justgiving.com/David-Morgan-Abseil, and to sponsor David Grant, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/DAVID-GRANT19 If you are interested in abseiling down the tower like the two Davids, please contact the hospital’s fundraising team via fundraising@southend.nhs.uk or 01702 385337.