Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Joy as firefighters finish their mountain challenge
A TEAM of firefighters have completed an ascent of B e n Ne v i s in full uniform to raise a fourfigure sum for charity.
Dundee Airport firefighters Gary Johnstone, Cameron Marshall, Laura McKenzie and Lyall Stephen each wore 20kg of equipment to complete the summit of the UK’s tallest mountain.
The quartet set off on the morning of August 24 in overalls, boots, helmet and breathing apparatus – complete with oxygen tank – and reached the top after several agonising hours.
Through their efforts they have raised nearly £2,000 for the International Fire and Rescue Association, MND Scotland and Ronald McDonald House Glasgow.
The three charities expressed their thanks on social media in the days after the ascent.
Speaking after the climb, airport watch manager Gary said: “We all set off laughing – and after the first hour we were crying.
“It was really tough going. Lyall and I had each done Ben Nevis before so we knew what to expect – but this was so much harder.
“However it was a really good day – a hard day, but a good day. It was perfectly clear when we reached the top.”
To date, the foursome have raised £1,935 – with £195 of Gift Aid on top – but expect to top £2,500 once all the donations have been collected.
The team had initially set a target of £600, but upped the ante to £1,000 as the donations began pouring in.
There was even a “notable” boost after the team appeared in the Tele discussing the challenge.
“We’re looking at doing something else like it next year – somewhere like Snowdonia because there’s a train to the top,” he said.
Almost as hard as the climb itself was laughing at the spread of firefighter jokes they received.
“If I had been taking sponsorship for every time someone said ‘where’s the fire’ or ‘can I borrow your oxygen tank’ we would have raised loads,” he joked.
“We were expecting that, and we were expecting the climb to be hard – but that’s why we did it.
“It’s all going to three really good charities and we are really chuffed.
“It was a great teambuilding event. I’m proud of the team for doing it.”
The team’s fundraising page is still active and can be visited at the Dundee Airport Ben Nevis Challenge JustGiving page.