A retired north-east skipper is taking on a gruelling charity challenge to thank surgeons who removed a life-threatening tumour from his skull.
It was thought David Stephen, from Peterhead, had suffered a stroke when he became ill in summer last year.
But scans revealed a growth in his head which was six inches long and three inches wide.
Doctors believe it had been there since 1998.
Mr Stephen was told his tumour was not cancerous, but that he could die without surgery.
A nine-hour operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was hailed a success, but just days later it emerged Mr Stephen had suffered a blood clot where the tumour had been cut out, putting him in serious danger.
The grandfather-of-ten was taken back to the operating theatre to have the clot removed.
Afterwards, he was left paralysed down one side and had to learn how to walk again through months of therapy.
Now the 62-year-old has announced plans to climb Ben Nevis to raise money for staff at ARI’s neurosurgery Ward 205.
He said: “The surgical and medical teams went beyond their call of duty and due to their amazing skills and many answered prayers I am now recovering well.”
Mr Stephen, who said he had “no clue” there was a tumour inside him for more than a decade, added: “There is an unnecessary workload on an already overworked staff caring for patients in a near 40-year-old and tired building.
“There is also a lack of much-needed equipment that is required to aid patients’ recovery.”
Last night, Mr Stephen, who was skipper of the Peterhead-register Pathway, was closing in on his £14,000 target.
His campaign was given a boost by award-winning local fish and chip shop Zanres, which donated more than £3,400. The store donated all proceeds from its takings on Thursday.
Mr Stephen hopes to climb Scotland’s highest mountain later this month. Donations can be made at
justgiving.com/David-Stephen-Ben
Nevis.