The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Climb completed after Lily promise
APerth man trekked to the top of Ben Nevis to fulfil a promise he made to brave teenager Lily Douglas.
Former military man now lorry driver Craig Donald, 48, told Lily he would take one of her teddies to the summit when she was first diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma back in 2017.
He also promised to take a toy for local girl Leva Stewart who battled cancer.
However, due to extensive training and blistered feet, Craig was unable to complete the mission and Lily’s bear stayed at his Perth home.
Craig said: “We did about 26 miles of the West Highland Way in the first outing and my body just packed in and I was taken away in an ambulance.
“I’m an ex-soldier so I still have a ‘never give up’ mentality in my head.
“Jane, Lily’s mother, tagged me in a Facebook post a few weeks ago, and it was the very day five years ago that I made the promise to Lily and that got my mind into overdrive again.
“Next thing I knew, I had assembled 12 guys to take on the hike.
“Jane got four T-shirts made up for us for Lily’s Legacy and I said her that I still had Lily’s teddy bear and I told her she wasn’t getting it back.
“She had a big smile on her face.
“It wasn’t a teary moment but I could only imagine what Jane was feeling when I said that to her.”
The hike took place on August 6 and the group set off from Broxden Services at five in the morning.
They got to the top, with Craig’s 14-year-old son also joining in on the climb.
“Myself and my 14-yearold son managed to get the teddy to the top of Ben Nevis”, Craig continued.
“Lily was an absolute celebrity. She was a superstar. When it first came around, I thought to myself that Perth is a small town and now that we have got a connection to everybody, I just felt that I had a duty to do it.
“Everyone was doing fundraising projects and I thought that I would take on one too.”
Lily died in January at the age of 14 after being diagnosed with a rare bone cancer at age nine.
The talented young dancer touched the hearts of everyone around her, and she even got the chance to meet some of the Strictly Come Dancing stars and so far, the group have raised £920 but hope to maybe reach £1,000.
“There was a big roar when we reached the top, and I was over the moon for my son Jaden who brought Lily’s teddy up with him.
“As soon as I saw my son’s silhouette coming through the mist with Lily’s teddy in his hand and he approached and gave me a cuddle, I just broke down.
“I want to keep doing the hike every year if possible to keep Lily’s memory alive.
“I would just like to thank everyone that has donated and the awareness that it has brought.
“Thank you to every one of the hikers because for some, they had never been up a mountain before in their life but they got to the top.
“We have done it for Lily and she was a fighter till the end.”
The GoFundMe can be accessed online.