Peak fitness as 82-year-old, inspired by his wife, bags the last of 282 Munros
AN 82-year-old man has climbed the final mountain in his challenge to bag all of Scotland’s 282 Munros.
Nick Gardner was greeted with a piper and a guard of honour of walking poles from fellow climbers who cheered him as he reached the summit of Cairn Gorm yesterday.
The grandfather of four has spent the last two years making it his mission to climb all of Scotland’s highest peaks since his wife, Janet, had to go into full-time care.
And, in his words, he’s “gone and done it”.
Speaking at the final summit with a glass of Prosecco in one hand and a dram of whisky in the other, he beamed: “I am just feeling elated. Words don’t exist to describe how I am feeling.
“I’ve climbed many mountains, but I have never had a day like this in my life before.
“Not many people get to experience a day like this. I feel very lucky. I am a very lucky man.”
Mr Gardner, from Gairloch, in the north-west Highlands, said he felt life was over when Janet, 84, had to move into a care home after developing Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis.
Throughout his epic adventure across Scotland, which he started in July 2020, three months after his 80th birthday, the intrepid pensioner has been raising money and awareness for charities Alzheimer’s Scotland and the Royal Osteoporosis Society. His JustGiving page has smashed its original target of £10,000 and has now raised almost £60,000, with donations still flooding in.
The challenge culminated in Mr Gardner climbing his final peak surrounded by an entourage of about 150 friends, family, fellow climbers and loyal fans he has met along the way, wearing bright orange and purple T-shirts promoting both charities.
Getting emotional, Mr Gardner added: “I am very excited because what I wanted to do was complete this challenge, but also increase awareness of these two diseases, and the work these charities do, and I’ve gone and done it.
“I felt so helpless when Janet went into care, and I knew I needed to combat that, and that I needed a project to keep me going.
“But to have been able to help these charities, help raise awareness, and help others, it feels incredible.”