A KILWINNING woman is honouring her grandmother by taking on a charity climb to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland.

26-year-old Rachel Meney will be taking on Ben Lomond next month and is hoping to raise as much money and awareness as possible - as well as continuing on a tradition left by the her grandmother who was an avid ‘munro bagger’.

And Rachel is looking for as many people as possible to take on the challenge with her, with already about 25 people confirmed, it promises to be an amazing day.

The nurse at Crosshouse Hospital told us: “I’m doing this walk because I want to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s and for Alzheimer Scotland and the amazing work they do and support they provide.

“I was inspired to create this particular event because I wanted to honour my gran. She was the most loving, inspiring and gentle person I have ever known and I’m so proud to be one of her beloved grandchildren. She began climbing or “bagging” munros with my papa later on in her life and if she could do it then I’m 100 per cent I have no excuse not to do it now! Plus anyone who thinks climbing a Munro is hard.... the simplest way to put it is how hard do you think the smallest things are for someone living with Alzheimer’s?

“Between my gran’s love of music and the munros and even the simplest thing of looking through her pictures of these times before and after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis these memories always gave her so much joy...... And you don’t need me to tell you the importance of memories to someone with Alzheimer’s.

“So I thought what better way to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer’s Scotland than to honour her too by bagging my first Munro! And doing it with a team of family/friends and even complete strangers.

“Making it to the top and having some of our hillwalkers play some music at the summit! While we rest, recuperate and let our accomplishment sink in! Then I hope to have a small bunch of forget me not flowers for each walker to carry up and lay around the cairn before we all head back down.”

The walk will take place on Friday, August 11 and anyone who wants to take part is more than welcome to do so. Rachel’s fundraising page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/family-meney1 and she added: “I urge anyone who wants a challenge/wants to do something for a wonderful charity to come with me! To set up their own just giving page if they want to and join it to the ‘forget me not walk’ for a team total!

“I hope to film the walk and take lots of pictures and would love someone with a drone camera to help film it so the footage could be used to promote similar events in the future. I’m also hoping some local businesses would donate their support and services rather than money to help me in arranging this amazing day in any way they can! This walk doesn’t just mean a lot to me, it means a lot to many people.”