Highland champion Margaret Payne (90) takes new accolade after her virtual climb of Suilven raised over £434,000 for the NHS, Highland Hospice and RNLI
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AN inspirational 90-year-old who took on a famous peak familiar in a staircase challenge has been named Highland Community Champion of the Year.
Margaret Payne won the nation’s hearts by climbing the stairs at her home 282 times – the equivalent height of 2398ft high Suilven – to raise £434,562 for the NHS, Highland Hospice and the RNLI.
Mrs Payne, who completed the challenge during the coronavirus lockdown, has now been awarded her community champion title at the national Helping it Happen Awards, run by rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates.
An independent judging panel thought Mrs Payne, of Assynt, was an inspiration and did not let anything get in her way of raising money for local and national causes.
She beat competition in her category from Inverness-based Tulloch Homes and the Hello! Campaign by Highland Migrant and Refugee Advocacy.
Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The judges had a really tough time deciding on the winners for each category because they have all made a big difference to their local communities and wider Scotland.”
Mrs Payne, who has fond memories of scaling the peak in her younger years, has also been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's birthday honours .
