Scaling dizzying heights to help orphans in need

AGROUP of six South Devon fundraisers plan to scale the dizzy heights of Britain’s biggest peaks for charity.

The six have been training hard for the Three Peaks Challenge, in which they will climb Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales, all in the course of 24 hours.

They will set off at the weekend, raising money for charities from the Devon Air Ambulance and Alzheimers research to buying wheelchairs for severely disabled children in Bulgaria.

Tara Steward of Paignton is raising money for the wheelchairs. She said: “Last Decem- ber my husband and I visited an orphanage in Bulgaria for severely disabled children, to deliver Christmas presents to them from our Christmas Stocking Appeal.

“During this visit I was devastated to find that some of the children at the orphanage who have Cerebral Palsy and need wheelchairs for everyday use, were having to spend their time in baby pushchairs, which they did not properly fit into. These orphan children have very little in life and even limited amounts of love and attention.

“I would truly love to see them be comfortable throughout the day and their bodies supported by providing them with adequate wheel- chairs for their condition and needs.”

A new wheelchair costs around £1,500, and Tara hopes to raise enough to buy two or even three of them. She hopes to deliver them by hand in December when she travels to Bulgaria to distribute Christmas stockings filled by supporters of her annual appeal.

Chris Ripley is also raising money for the Bulgarian wheelchair appeal; Kim Dixon for the Stroke Association; Liza Tyler for the Devon Air Ambulance; Maria Bent for Hearing Guide Dogs for the Deaf and Joanne Robb for the Alzheimers Society.

Tara has a GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/ hhghq8-3-peaks-challenge-in-24-hours