Scottish climber, 81, raises thousands for hospice in Everest charity challenge

An 81-year-old man has climbed the height of Mount Everest on his local munro to raise money for a hospice.

Angus Whyte, from Dunblane, has climbed Ben Ledi 12 times, the same height as Mount Everest, to raise money for Strathcarron hospice.

Mr Whyte said that climbing Ben Ledi started as a way for him to get through lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic, when he realised he could use it to support the local community.

He said: “With Covid-19 restrictions, I was looking to do something helpful outdoors, that would benefit the community and me with exercise.

Angus Whyte, 81, from Dunblane, climbs Ben Ledi, near Callander, for the 13th time since October in order to reach the total distance of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, to raise money for the Strathcarron Hospice picture: Jane Barlow/PA

“So I worked out that where I parked, climbing Ben Ledi was at 124m and the climb was 755m, and I thought this would be a good challenge for me to climb it 12 times – which would take me to 8900m – well above Mount Everest.

“So that was my challenge, to do that for the hospice.”

Having now raised £4,000 for the hospice, Mr Whyte said many of the staff do work to help people but it goes unseen, and hoped the charity would raise awareness for the service.

Mr Whyte said: “Our local hospice, Strathcarron hospice, working with them on this project, I’ve come to realise the fantastic work they do.

“Like a lot of people, I thought of the hospice as just a building where they help.

“But so much of their work is out in the community and sadly when people pass away they often prefer to do it in their homes rather than away with strangers.

“So there’s a huge amount of work that goes on unseen and they have to raise an enormous amount of money to support these services and to enable them to deliver the service free."

Facing the clock, Mr Whyte managed the climb in an impressive 14 hours and 41 minutes.

He added: “Christmas Day was my last climb, but to tell you the truth I finished on December 1, but I promised my son Alun and his partner Courtney that I would go up with them again on Christmas.

“It feels amazingly good for my wellbeing to have completed it.”

You can donate to Strathcarron hospice via https://www.strathcarronhospice.net/donate/climbing-everest-for-strathcarron/20