Aaron completes his ‘steep’ challenge – raising money for Western Isles Hospital and Stornoway Primary

Nine-year-old Aaron Macdonald from Sandwick is an inspiration to his peers and wider community, having demonstrated his generosity and kindness of spirit when he decided to take on a steep challenge to raise funds for his local school and hospital.

Aaron decided to set himself a personal challenge to climb the highest mountain in the Western Isles: the Clisham on Harris – which stands at 799 meters (2,621 ft). After learning about charity in school, he decided to try to raise money by completing the challenge.

Following discussions with his parents, Aaron decided to focus his efforts on helping children locally.

He firstly decided to raise money for his school – Stornoway Primary – to help children with Dyslexia. He asked if money raised could go towards buying ‘C-Pens’, small, compact pen-like devices that scan text and read it out loud.

Aaron then asked if he could split his fundraising money with NHS Western Isles, to buy two children’s tablets for the paediatric bay in the Western Isles Hospital.

Aaron absolutely smashed his challenge, which he completed on a sunny day on May 5 with his mum (Kerry who works for NHS Western Isles), dad and dog, ‘Buzz’. He made it up to the ‘summit’ in just under two hours and completed the full challenge in three hours and 15 minutes.

The nine-year-old raised an astounding £1,200 – £400 of which went to NHS Western Isles to purchase two tablets, and £800 going to Stornoway Primary.

Aaron said: “I wanted to give children who have to stay in hospital something to do so they aren’t bored. I hope the tablets will give children who are unwell a bit of a distraction.”

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, said: “What an achievement! We are so grateful to Aaron for this incredibly generous donation. Such consideration and maturity was shown in Aaron’s choice of who to donate the money to and what the funds should be used for. The amount Aaron raised was beyond all expectations and just demonstrates how impressed everyone was with his kind and thoughtful gesture. Well done to Aaron for completing this personal challenge in such an impressive time!”