Charity summit for Moray business women
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A GROUP of business women have put their best foot forward for charity by scaling Britain’s highest mountain.
Seven women from Moray Business Women’s Club (MBWC) completed the 1345m ascent up Ben Nevis to raise awareness and funds for Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation, the group’s charity for 2019.
The foundation, which provides support for children with cancer across the UK, was established in memory of Elgin schoolgirl Abbie Main, who passed away in 2017 after living with a rare form of cancer.
Moray Business Women’s Club has been supporting the charity since the start of the year and the idea to summit Ben Nevis came from Sam Dowdall, the organisation’s president.
She said: "Every year we nominate a charity and this year we are delighted to be supporting Abbie’s Sparkle. What the family have been through and the fact that Abbie, even after her death, is still inspiring and touching so many people’s lives meant that we as a group wanted to do something exceptional, so scaling the highest mountain in the country seemed only fitting.
"We have been training in a group and as individuals and are delighted that we all got through it together."
It was touch and go whether the climb would take place due to poor weather conditions as Amy Dee, MBWC’s charity champion explained.
She said: "We were all set to go the third week in August and the adrenalin was pumping but the weather turned and after taking advice from mountain rescue advisors we had to call it off.
"It was such a shame and we were all feeling a bit down.
"However, we rallied, quickly found another date and it turned out for the better as the weather was phenomenal with great views from the summit."
Amy added: "Taking on Ben Nevis was a big challenge for us all with none of us having done it before. We had a great time working together to help each other get to the top.
"There were some tricky moments but it was then that our thoughts turned to why we were doing it and that gave us the inspiration to battle on.
"Not only did we have a fantastic day of team building but we also raised funds for a great local charity."
So far, the hike has raised £2100 for Abbie’s Sparkle with money from the climb still to be collected.
Tammy Main, Abbie’s mum, said Ben Nevis is a special place for the family, who holidayed in the area.
And last year, Abbie's brother Cameron managed five summits of Ben Nevis in 14 hours and 26 minutes for the charity.
Tammy said: "We are delighted that the MBW got to complete their trek on such a beautiful sunny day. We know it was quite a challenge for some of their members and we appreciate the effort that was put in to raise money for Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation.
"Abbie created this charity herself to help others and every penny will go towards 'hospitals and stuff', the ‘stuff’ right now being for Sparkle Lodge - Abbie’s new holiday home venture for families to have fun times and make magical memories."
