A 12-year-old Crohn’s disease sufferer from Moray has completed a gruelling 82-mile trek through the East Highland Way – raising a stunning £5500 for charity.
Milne’s High School pupil Gavin Mackay, who lives in Mosstodloch, was joined by 13-year-old friend James Leslie on the adventure.
The second year pupils planned the challenge when Gavin, who was diagnosed as having Crohn’s three years ago, was helping James recover from a bowel operation.
Shadowed throughout their week-long camping and hiking expedition by their fathers, the pair set a fundraising target of £1000 the Crohn’s and Colitis UK and the Archie Foundation – but very soon smashed that target.
They arrived in Fort William at the weekend sang their way to the end of the trek, with Gavin in particular having defied recent ill-health to complete the challenge.
His father Stewart said: “Gavin’s health has not been too good – he was put on steroids a few months ago and they are causing pain in his joints.
“However, he has been walking and training in the gym in preparation and the support he has had from people and businesses in Mosstodloch, Fochabers and across Moray has been fantastic.
“The boys are brilliant and never once wavered – they sang all the way along and even cheered us up during the worst bits of the walk.”
Anyone wishing to add to Gavin and James’ fundraising efforts can do so via their Just Giving website.