A GROUP of friends who annually take on Arran’s highest peak look set to smash last year’s total raised for the Ayrshire Hospice.

On Saturday morning, the dedicated group of 19 donned their finest blue attire to climb Goatfell in memory of Bertie Blades who was a patient at the Hospice earlier this year and the father-in-law of Ryan Bruce who takes part every year.

With the numbers steadily growing every year, it is clear that more and more people feel strongly about the cause and want to help out in raising as much money as possible.

A final total won’t be known for a few weeks but all indications point towards last year’s £2,500 being eclipsed by some margin.

Thanks go to the generous passengers on board the CalMac ferries who didn’t shy away from putting their hands in their pockets and a brilliant £453.54 to add to the total.

Thanks also go to the four local businesses who chipped in with Pat Breen of Breen Roofing purchasing the ferry tickets, The Cheery Cup providing a brilliant lunch for the team, Charlie’s Bar for providing the venue for the Saturday night celebrations and Garfield’s for providing the buffet.

Pictured are the majority of the team at the top of Goatfell, with the youngest member of this year’s team, Olivia Fisher, 6, at the front.