Margaret (90) stepping up to Suilven staircase challenge
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THE Highlands may have found its own version of Captain Tom Moore, who hit the national headlines this week by raising millions of pounds for the NHS by completing 100 laps of his garden ahead of his 100th birthday.
Margaret Payne, who lives at Ardvar near Lairg, is now on her own mission to reach the peak of Suilven – at the age of 90.
Over the next two months, she plans to climb the staircase at her home a total of 282 times, the equivalent 2398ft it takes to climb to the summit of the Sutherland mountain.
She is taking on the challenge to raise funds for the NHS and Highland Hospice.
She has set herself a £10,000 target and by yesterday had raised about £3300.
It has been 76 years since Mrs Payne first scaled Suilven with her sister, Elizabeth, during the war and she cannot wait to climb it again with her epic indoor trek.
“I have now lived in the Highlands for over 40 years and I would like to raise funds to support the NHS in particular at this difficult time, she said.
The hospice is urging people to get behind the fundraising challenge.
"We're delighted to have Margaret's support, especially as her late husband James was such a fantastic ambassador for the Highland Hospice," a spokeswoman said.
"Their daughter Nicky recently travelled all the way from New Zealand for her father's memorial service and has been at home ever since because of the lockdown – she'll be cheering on her mum all the way, and so will we."
People can show their support by visiting Mrs Payne's fundraising page.
