Stepping up: Ellie (7) from Culloden has marched forward in 300k challenge
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A determined young fundraiser from Culloden has been “March-ing” through last month to raise money for Maggie’s Highlands.
Seven-year-old Ellie Smith, a pupil at Duncan Forbes Primary School, has put on her step counter every day with the aim of completing 300,000 paces over the course of the month in aid of the cancer support charity.
Proud grandma Tracey Parsons said Ellie has gone from walking for an average of an hour and a half every day to four hours thanks to the Maggie’s Step Challenge.
Ms Parsons, from Scaniport near Dores, said: “We are so proud of Ellie and everything she is doing.
“Ellie’s mum, Bethany, has also been doing the challenge and together they have been out and about all over the area.
“I have been enjoying joining in with them where I can although my knees are sore.
“The challenge has been taking place throughout March.”
Together Ellie and her mum have raised almost £300 so far.
Ms Parson continued: “They really started because of lockdown and missing Bethany’s granddad Roy, who passed away a number of years ago.
“They had always wanted to do something to support Maggie’s Inverness but it wasn’t until the lockdown that they have had the time to focus on that.
“Ellie has been a complete star.
“She just gets up in the morning and puts on her watch every day and starts to clock up the steps.
“Then after school they have been going everywhere. They have been all over the place.
“There are so many photos of Ellie enjoying being out and about.”
Bethany Smith said: “I know I’m not the only one who has lost a loved one, so I’m doing this challenge of walking 300,000 steps in March.
“I have lost my granddad, and my gran beat beast cancer twice.
“Ellie and me both want to raise what we can to help support other families in this horrible time and also to help people get the treatment they need.”
Visit facebook.com/donate/2624287611194913/ or search for “Bethany Smith fundraising”.
