A Highland businessman is planning to climb higher than Everest in seven days to raise money for a children’s charity.
Fort William-based forestry expert Matthew Trewin has been training hard to take on the challenge he has set himself of climbing Ben Nevis every day for a week starting on Saturday.
Every morning, Mr Trewin, who works for property consultancy Bidwells, will set off from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, which is 65ft above sea level, to climb the 4,409ft mountain with his friend Jonny Rough.
Over the course of the week, the pair will climb a total of 30,863ft – almost 2,000ft more than Everest, which measures 29,029 ft.
Their challenge is part of a year-long fundraising effort by Bidwells, which is celebrating its 175th year in business by raising funds and donating time to Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).
Mr Trewin said: “We are now in our final weeks of training and are looking forward to getting started on our first hike.
“Bidwells chose to support CHAS throughout our 175th year in recognition of the invaluable support they provide to children and families across Scotland.
“At Bidwells, we’ve all been looking for our own ways to contribute to the fundraising push and I hope friends, family and the public here in Fort William will get behind us and donate.”
CHAS runs two children’s hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch, and home care services in Aberdeen and Inverness.
Its staff currently support more than 300 families across Scotland, as well as a significant number of families who receive bereavement support.
Criona Knight, who is the charity’s corporate and events fundraiser, said: “It’s wonderful to see the Bidwells’ team coming up with new ways to fundraise as part of our year-long partnership.”
She added that she wished the team the best of luck with their challenge.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to CHAS can do so on the JustGiving website at www.justgiving.com/Matthew-Trewin.