An Aberdeenshire woman has achieved “hero” status after climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, in her bid to raise funds for two “inspirational” Kenyan schoolchildren.
Abi Lyall, 39, from Kintore, managed to scale Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon achieved the feat in just six days – cycling between all three.
Her gruelling challenge was inspired by a recent trip to Kenya, where she met youngsters Esther, 15, and Emmanuel, 17.
The siblings, who live with their HIV positive father and mother, have struggled to pay for their education.
Mrs Lyall said: “I went to Kenya in April and met tons of kids.
“And since meeting Esther and Emmanual I just felt like they needed my help.
“With Esther being a girl it hit me the hardest.
“Being a mum with a daughter, my heart just went out to her. Emmanuel wants to be an engineer.
“I cannot put into words the desperate situation that we found these two in, they are inspirational.”
Mrs Lyall’s six-day adventure started with the ascent of Ben Nevis, followed by a cycle down Scotland’s west coast.
By the third day she had smashed her original donations target of £5,000 – it currently sits at more than £6,000 and is still rising.
Also on day three, the challenge almost came to an abrupt halt when she picked up a knee injury.
But she powered through after her husband David offered words of encouragement and she was spurred on by emotional video chats with Esther and Emmanuel in Kenya.
Mrs Lyall added: “Both teenagers have managed to achieve good grades at school, despite not knowing when they will next get a meal. Thinking about them really pushed me on.”
Having been involved with the Gathimba Edwards Foundation, an Aberdeen-based charity, for about three years, Mrs Lyall wanted to help raise funds for them.
It was set up to help underprivileged children in Kenya and aims to give them the best chance of a better life.
The charity’s founder, Myles Edwards, praised Mrs Lyall’s achievements and said: “Abi is such a warrior. She is simply the toughest person I have met.
“Climbing three of Britain’s biggest mountains is a hard enough challenge.
“But, to cycle the 450 miles in between each one really is incredible – and slightly crazy; but that is Abi.
“What she has done for Esther and Emmanual since meeting them is unbelievable.
“Their school fees are now paid up until the end of secondary school and we will start building them a new house next month – Abi is my hero.”
Abi says she hopes to keep working with the charity – but adds that she is currently banned by her family from any cycling or hiking in the near future.