Raigmore Hospital charity on a high thanks to 'climbers'
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A grateful dad and four nursery staff reached their peak with a fundraising ‘thank you’ for the Archie Foundation.
The five novice climbers scaled Ben Nevis to raise £1365 – and rising – for the official charity of the Highland Children’s Unit at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Summiting in less than three hours and returning to the mountain’s foot in around two, the team from the Country Bumpkins Nursery, near Ardersier, enjoyed glorious weather in Lochaber.
Two of the five were motivated by the help and care their own young family members had received from the Archie Foundation.
Two-year-old Harris Brown (pictured right), son of Dougal, suffered horrific injuries early this year after falling off a bed he was playfully bouncing on.
During six weeks of care, the Forres toddler spent six weeks in hospital and benefited from Archie’s support and care.
Bethany Best felt indebted for the care her little nephew, six-year-old Ben Masson (pictured above), received after an accident.
Deputy manager Nicole Van Niekerk said: “There was originally going to be more of us making the climb, but we had to reschedule after a weather warning for thunderstorms at the summit!
“Thankfully, on the day, it was beautiful. It took us a little bit longer than planned because the annual Ben Nevis Race was on at the same time so we had all these runners overtaking us. It was a pretty incredible spectacle and distracted us from the aching legs!
“We’ve had a couple of families from the nursery who have had to use the Archie Foundation, so it is close to our hearts.
“It was just a wee thank-you for all the crucial hard work they do as a charity. The families have said the help and support they received was just spectacular.”
Ms Best said: “The Archie Foundation helped Ben immensely. Their family accommodation meant his mum and dad didn’t have to leave him alone at the hospital.
“The nurses were great at keeping his spirits up. I really wanted to help them in any way possible.”
