Owen steps up for Black Stairs fundraiser

For most Wickers climbing the Black Stairs once or twice daily would be more than enough – but Owen Manson went up and down 100 times each day for a week.

In the process the 17-year-old Wick High School pupil, who lives near the top of the steps in Breadalbane Terrace, lost three-and-a-half stones in weight and raised £240 for Dyslexia Scotland.

The sixth-year pupil said: "I thought I would keep myself busy since I could not go to the gym, and thought this would be a good idea to do as a challenge."

With the gym closed due to Covid-19, Owen originally set out on his challenge to keep fit and lose weight but then he decided he might as well put his efforts into raising money.

At first he thought of the NHS but, as he is dyslexic and mildly autistic, he decided to put the money towards Dyslexia Scotland. "A lot of people came forward which I thought was very nice of everyone to do," Owen said.

He said that completing each session felt very long, taking around one-and-a-half hours per day, but he got used to it. The 700 times up and down the steps measured up to approximately 10-and-a-half miles in distance.

Owen, who is planning to study business management at university, carried out his challenge last month and although he is keeping up his exercise routine it is now at a more leisurely pace.

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