A trio of Inverness women will be hiking up Ben Nevis to raise cash for Marie Curie Highland in memory of a “family man” who lost his life suddenly to cancer.
Davie McLean was just 51 when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of liver cancer just six days before he died on June 29 last year.
Now his sister, Mina Black, 47, of Balnacraig Farm, Dunain, Inverness, plans to test her physical endurance with her daughter, Donna, 23, and her friend Jen Patterson, 25, by climbing the UK’s highest peak on June 27.
The intrepid trio have almost no climbing experience between them but have so far raised £1,780 for Marie Curie and hope to raise more.
They will start their trek at about 8am on the day and hope to complete the challenge in about eight hours.
Mr McLean, who lived in the city’s Trafford Avenue, worked in the Highland Council’s cemetery and crematorium department for more than 30 years.
Mrs Black said: “Davie was a funny guy with a good sense of humour and was very well liked. He was very much a family man and adored his wife, Sue, and their three children, Andy, Julie and Rachel, and was an amazing big brother. The cancer was a huge shock to the family.
“We have been practicing by doing some climbing up Fyrish hill near Alness but Ben Nevis is a whole new challenge altogether.”
“Marie Curie does a fantastic job but unfortunately my brother was not around long enough to receive their care. We really miss him and we are doing this in his memory.”
Mrs Black added that she would like to thank all those people who have donated to the cause so far.
Donations can be made on the JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/remember/170735/Davie-Mclean