Lucie, 9, on top of world for charity

Published on Thursday 20 August 2009 09:54

A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl has raised more than £300 for schoolgirls in Africa by climbing the UK's highest mountain.

Lucie Hall from Penicuik scaled Ben Nevis during the summer holidays and to date has raised an impressive 369.

The money will buy such essentials as books, shoes and pencils to give girls in some of the poorest rural communities of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Tanzania, the chance to go to school.

Lucie decided to support girls in Africa when she found out about the charity Camfed – the Campaign for Female Education – through her local Brownie pack.

Lucie said: "I thought it was not fair for boys to have better educational opportunities than girls." Keen climber Lucie and dad Julian spent two days climbing the mountain via a north face route.

The Cuiken Primary School pupil added: "It was exciting to be on such big cliffs and although the climbing was easy, I was roped up to my dad for safety."

Lucie's ultimate challenge is to climb Mont Blanc in France.

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/Lucie-Hall