90-year-old Highland climber praises "incredible" generosity of strangers
Margaret Payne from Sutherland's so far raised over £330,000 for the NHS, Highland Hospice and RNLI
Last updated 21st Apr 2020
A 90-year-old woman who's climbing the equivalent of a mountain inside her highland home says the response to her fundraiser has been "incredible".
Margaret Payne from Sutherland's raised over £330,000 - after taking inspiration from captain Tom Moore.
She's looking to hike over 2000 feet over the next two months - that's 282 flights of her stairs.
"I count the up's and not the downs. So far I've done around 35, I've got a long way to go," she said.
"I've been walking upstairs on wet, windy days when I couldn't get out, just to take exercise.
"When my daughter Nicola saw me doing it, she asked me why don't I do something about that."
99-year-old Tom Moore has hit the headlines for raising millions of pounds for the NHS by walking 100 laps round his garden.
All money raised by Margaret's mountain climb will be split between the National Health Service, Highland Hospice and RNLI.
She's been taken back by the generosity from strangers.
"I think it is incredible, especially when the times are so difficult and money is so tight.
"Nobody knows what's going to happen after this."
Margaret climbs a handful of stairs every day and believes it will take her around 2 months to complete the challenge.
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