A GREENOCK man has set himself the mountainous challenge of bagging all of Scotland’s Munros to raise money for charity in memory of his late mum.
Jamie Burns, 25, hopes to summit all 282 peaks above 3,000ft across the country while gathering donations for Ardgowan Hospice.
Having lost his mum Mary Campbell to cancer in 2017, Jamie was inspired to take on the challenge after seeing friend Sam Morris achieve the feat last year.
A keen hillwalker herself, Mary – who passed away aged 47 – worked at Inverclyde Royal Hospital while raising Jamie and his older sister Hannah.
She was supported by Ardgowan Hospice throughout her illness, with the charity also offering help to her children.
Mary Campbell (Image: Jamie Burns)
Jamie said: “She was first diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in primary school.
“Ten years later, when I was in sixth year, she found out that the cancer was back. It was in her bones and it was worse.
“I’m really grateful to have had her for those ten extra years. I could’ve lost her when I was nine.
“We went on holidays and to concerts and made lots memories in that time.
“I went straight back to work after my mum passed away, so I never really processed it.
“I think after seven years, I’ve come to terms with it and I’m ready to do something."
Jamie has so far ticked off 60 Munros and has been joined Hannah, Sam, and friends Ben Gallacher, Colin and Donald Lapsley and Stuart Moodie along the way.
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He created a JustGiving page last week with a target of £1,000, but this was surpassed within 24 hours and now sits at more than £1,400.
Jamie credits his love of hillwalking to his mum and Hannah, as well as his dad William - a Mountain Rescue team member.
Mary encouraged Jamie to join the Scouts as a child, with whom he completed his first of nine trips along the West Highland Way.
He admits, however, that he was not always keen on the activity.
Jamie told the Tele: “My mum tried to take me up Munros when I was younger but I didn’t like it.
“I think I just stopped walking and took a strop. Now, I love it.
“There’s a picture of my mum touching a cairn at the top of Buachaille Etive Mòr.
“I did it a few weeks ago and there’s a picture of me touching the cairn, but I didn’t know that photo existed – I came across it afterwards."
Jamie found a photo of his mum at the same spot he had recently reached in Glen Etive (Image: Jamie Burns)
He added: “In the past I kind of got myself down a wee bit and decided I need to make my mum proud.
“I thought raising money for a cause that’s helped me and her would be good.
“I think she’ll be proud looking down on me. She’ll also probably be saying ‘why are there dishes sitting there’, though.”
Mary was also an avid fundraiser and took part in various charity activities for Ardgowan Hospice.
Mary taking part in an ice bucket challenge with Martin Compston (Image: Jamie Burns)
In 2014, she complete the ice bucket challenge alongside actor and hospice ambassador Martin Compston.
Jamie said: “You never know, maybe Martin would like to join me when I get to the last Munro."
To donate to Jamie’s fundraiser, go to justgiving.com.
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