The Sunday Post: Hospice News

Where there’s a hill there’s a way

By Paul Hastie

THE HOSPICE Appeal was given a mountain of cash last week from Livingston lad Cory Dunningan, after the super-fit 10-year-old put on his climbing boots to scale Britain’s highest peak.

Cory hiked the 4408 feet of Ben Nevis with his dad and grandfather to raise an impressive Ł500 — and bag his sixth Munro at the same time.

The youngster decided he wanted to help our campaign after seeing the CHAS cinema advert with Ewan McGregor appealing for donations towards Robin House.

Cory said, “When I came home from the cinema I told my mum I wanted to help out. I had heard about Rachel House, so I wanted to be able to raise money for the new hospice.

Cory gets in a bit of practice
before his big climb.

“I had been planning to climb Ben Nevis for a while, so I thought I could get my friends to sponsor me and raise the money that way.”

Cory went round his family, friends, teachers and neighbours, who were only too happy to stump up for his spectacular climb.

With Ł500 coming to CHAS because of his efforts, mum Gillian has every right to be proud of her adventurous son.

“Cory’s been going out climbing with his grandfather since he was seven,” she said. “He started off with hills, and walks in the Trossachs but then he got ambitious.
Encouraging

“His grandfather is a keen climber, but I think he was quite happy doing some simple climbs and enjoying the scenery. Now Cory is encouraging him to do the Munros.

“He’s a Munro-bagger in the making. He’s started so young he has lots of time to get them all in.”

As well as Ben Nevis, Cory has bagged Ben Lomond, Ben Lawers, Beinn Ghlas, Ben Vorlich and Schiehallion, but he doesn’t plan to stop there.

“I hope to do lots more climbing. I want to do Ben More next,” Cory said. “I do Tae Kwon Do twice a week, and I play football, but I like climbing too — it’s nice and peaceful.”

Now ittle sister Sophie (6) is keen to follow in her big brother’s footsteps.

“Sophie wanted to come on the climb with me this year,” he added. “She went round the doors to help me raise money, so maybe I’ll take her with me next year.”

You can e-mail us at: hospice@sundaypost.com