Highland OAP inspired by Captain Tom Moore who aimed to raise £10k for NHS reaches nearly £120k

A 90-year-old woman from Sutherland who was inspired by Captain Tom Moore to raise £10,000 for the NHS has smashed her target by nearly £110,000.

Margaret Payne plans to climb the equivalent of a local mountain, Suilven, on her staircase, a height of 2,398ft or 282 trips upstairs.

Mrs Payne, started the challenge on Easter Sunday and expects it will take her around two months to complete, had raised £1,800 by Wednesday and by Friday morning, her donations had exceeded £32,000 – she has now raised nearly £120,000.

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She started the challenge to thank the NHS and hospice staff who took care of her late husband Jim.

Margaret Payne aims to climb the height of local mountain Suilven. Picture: ContributedMargaret Payne aims to climb the height of local mountain Suilven. Picture: Contributed
Margaret Payne aims to climb the height of local mountain Suilven. Picture: Contributed

Speaking after the target broke through the £30,000 mark, she said: "I think it's amazing, I wasn't expecting anything like it - 10,000 thank-yous. I think it's brilliant of them all and I feel the NHS really deserve it. They have been amazing, each day they are risking their lives.

"My husband died at Christmas and the NHS were absolutely wonderful. So it was a way of saying thank-you."

Mrs Payne, who lives in Ardvar, Sutherland, said she was never a hillwalker, having lived with knee problems since she was 12.

Her true passion was fishing and she said she would walk miles to reach the best spots.

She said: "I do walk around the garden, every nice day.

"I'm always afraid of being blown over now so when it's windy I daren't go.

"Our house stands rather high, facing the prevailing winds so it asks for it a bit."

Mrs Payne takes on the stair-climbing challenge several times throughout the day, starting in the morning once she is ready and finishing in the late afternoon.

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Her daughter Nicky McArthur believes the fresh air of north-west Scotland has helped keep her mother healthy, adding: "Mum is still incredibly active. She is an avid reader and crossword-doer. I think part of it is just staying interested in life."

You can find the donation page here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser

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