One-legged Ayr mountain climber's campaign

May 14 2008 Ayrshire Post

A ONE-LEGGED mountain climber is stepping up his fundraising campaign.

Ayr dad Colin Duthie, 44, has vowed to make it to the top of Ben Nevis in an adapted wheelchair.

But he wants to raise a mammoth £10,000 for kids with cerebral palsy in the process.

And he is appealing to local businesses to dig deep and support him in his challenge.

Colin, who lost his right leg more than 20 years ago, will lead a team of able-bodied adults to the highest peak in the UK at the end of this month.

Already two local organisations have come up trumps to give Colin’s charity fund a much-needed cash boost.

ADL Architecture and Ayr Round Table have both made significant donations.

But Colin needs more generous people to come forward if he is to meet his target.

He said: “There is no point in me doing this just for fun. The challenge is not just to make it to the top, it’s about making as much money as possible for people less fortunate than me. That’s the big challenge.

“I do have money coming in but I’m a long way off my target. Just the other day, a woman came up to me and handed me £20 because she had read about me in the Ayrshire Post. People have been great, but I need more.”

Capability Scotland and SCOPE will benefit from the Ben Nevis challenge, which sees 10 teams race to the top of the mountain.

The gruelling challenge will push the team members to their physical and mental limit as they overcome adverse weather conditions, six foot vertical lifts and horrendous terrain.

Colin is in no doubt how gruelling the challenge will be but says he is determined to do it: “I’ve never allowed my disability to hold me back, and I never will do. Body parts don’t make a person. So I’ve got one leg, big deal.

“I’m lucky to be alive. I’m 22 years older than I should be, I should be dead. When people ask me why I want to climb up Ben Nevis I say ‘why not?’

“I have got a beautiful wife, two lovely sons and a great job. Life is too short, especially when you’ve been close to death a couple of times.”

To sponsor Colin, log onto www.justgiving.com/mountainmisfits or email julie.duthie@talktalk.net