A young lad from Lewis has raised £1,200 after scaling the Clisham for charity.
Aaron Macdonald of Sandwick split the funds between his local school and the hospital
in Stornoway.
The sum of £800 going to Stornoway Primary aims to help children with dyslexia by
providing ‘C-Pens’, small, compact pen-like devices that scan text and read it out
loud.
The remainder will buy two tablets for the paediatric bay in the Western Isles Hospital.
Aaron said: “I wanted to give children who have to stay in hospital something to
do so they aren’t bored. I hope the tablets will give children who are unwell a bit
of a distraction.”
The nine-year-old set a personal challenge to climb the highest mountain in the Western
Isles - the Clisham on Harris - after learning about charity in school.
He set off during the good dry weather on 5 May 5 accompanied by mum, Kerry, who
works for NHS Western Isles, dad and their dog, ‘Buzz’.
He reached the summit within two hours and completed the full challenge in three
hours and 15 minutes.
NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, hailed the youngster’s achievement.
“We are so grateful to Aaron for this incredibly generous donation. Such consideration
and maturity was shown in Aaron’s choice of who to donate the money to and what the
funds should be used for.
“The amount Aaron raised was beyond all expectations and just demonstrates how impressed
everyone was with his kind and thoughtful gesture. Well done to Aaron for completing
this personal challenge in such an impressive time.”
Youngster climbs Clisham for charity
31 May 2025