Epic venture sees Calderwood m
Nicola Findlay
A 20-day challenge saw fundraisers take on six Munros – scaling the equivalent of Everest – and walking more than 100 miles.
The epic ‘West Highland Ben Neverest Way’ project was the brainchild of Calderwood man Tony Gilmour and raised more than £2000 for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
The 62-year-old was joined on the walking stretches of the West Highland Way by friend Dorothy Waldron, with her husband Colin and Tony’s wife Marie also providing vital support.
While having the idea of taking on the challenge some years ago, ill-health meant he had to put his grand plan on the backburner.
However, it was while attending a badminton class to get back to full fitness that he met Dorothy and Colin from Lindsayfield – and he discovered both their six-year-old great-nephew and three-year-old grandson had received treatment for leukaemia in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
Both boys are now doing well but it made Tony decide to put his plan into action – with Dorothy and Colin pledging their support.
The fundraiser culminated in Tony scaling Ben Nevis and despite several trials and tribulations along the way, including enduring treacherous weather, two failed Munros and getting lost on a mountain top, he couldn’t be happier to have raised more than he expected.
“I didn’t think for a minute I would exceed the target which was £1800 only because that’s what the JustGiving page suggested,” Tony told the News.
“I initially thought if I raised about £500 I would be doing well. It wasn’t easy but it was well worth all the effort.
“The final ascent was Ben Nevis and the Munro and the Scottish weather lived up to their reputations.
“It was almost too warm when the sun shone but by the time I had