Adventurer aims for the sky in Down’s Syndrome fundraiser

CHARITY: Fife man taking on challenge after vowing to do his part for causes throughout the year

A Fife adventurer is attempting to conquer 21 mountains in 21 days to mark World Down’s Syndrome Day on March 21.

Ross Cunningham took on the fundraising challenge in aid of Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS) after making a New Year’s resolution to do more for charity.

The Glenrothes hiker took up the activity to help combat depression and believes hill-climbing has had a positive benefit on both his physical and mental health.

He chose DSS after meeting a man named Tom, who has Down’s Syndrome, while working for SNP politician Douglas Chapman.

Ross said: “When I used to work for Douglas Chapman, the MP for the Dunfermline and West Fife, a couple of years ago, he encouraged me to make a video to mark the awareness day, which I did on one of his constituents Tom.

“Tom is a very positive, extremely friendly, fun-loving guy and I really enjoyed meeting him and making a video about a typical week in his life.

“(Down’s Syndrome Scotland) recently launched a campaign video to mark World Down’s Syndrome Day where they were encouraging people to come up with fundraising ideas around doing 21 things in 21 days, so that inspired me to do it with mountains.

“Last year I did my first charity challenge – doing the 24-mile Edinburgh Kiltwalk for Chas – and a New Year’s resolution of mine was to do more charity challenges this year.

“I go hiking regularly so if I make my hikes just that little bit more challenging, like doing 21 mountains in 21 days for example, I could also make some money for charity.”

Ross, who previously worked for St Johnstone Football Club in Perth, also set up his own website, Mountains Mend Minds, in January, to encourage more people to take up the activity.

He said: “I got into hiking when I was going through depression so it has really helped me.

“Because it’s really helped me, I wanted to get other people into hiking to improve their mental health and physical health.

“It’s a website dedicated to promoting the mental health benefits of hiking, including blogs from people on how hiking helps them mentally and includes links to walking routes.

“I only launched it in January and am still building it up but it’s had a good response so far.”

For his challenge, Ross is considering a mountain to be anything over 2,000ft in altitude and recognised as either a Munro, Corbett, Graham or Donald.

He has already completed 10 and will take on the next 11 in the coming weeks.

To sponsor Ross in his challenge visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rosscunningham-hike

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If I make my hikes... more challenging, I could make some money for charity

Ross Cunningham is raising the funds to mark World Down’s Syndrome Day.