Who is Margaret Payne? 90-year-old climbing 2,398ft on her stairs for the NHS
MARGARET Payne, 90, has set out to climb the equivalent of a 731 metre mountain in her home to raise money for the NHS in their fight against coronavirus.
Margaret took inspiration from 99-year-old Captain Thomas Moore, who completed 100 laps of his garden and raised more than £17million for NHS staff.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Who is Margaret Payne?
Margaret Payne is a 90-year-old woman from Scotland who has been inspired by Captain Tom Moore's successful fundraising campaign.
Margaret, who lives in Ardvar, decided to set up her own challenge to raise money for the NHS by climbing the equivalent of Mount Suilven, a total of 2,398ft.
This would be 282 trips up her stairs, and Margaret estimates the challenge should take two months.
She first climbed the actual Scottish mountain, which is in the west of Sutherland, when she was 15 years old in 1944, and now wants to do it again while safely in lockdown.
Join our George Cross campaign for NHS staff
SUN readers are today urged to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.
Yesterday, we backed a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”
SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”
We are asking readers to sign the petition online at .
Margaret decided on her unusual challenge in a bid to thank the NHS staff and carers at Highland Hospice, who cared for her husband.
After beginning on Easter Sunday, Margaret set a goal of £10,000 but by Thursday, April 16, the fundraiser had smashed its target.
LATEST ON CORONAVIRUS
The astounded OAP , as donations soared past her target of £10,000: "I wasn't expecting anything like it - 10,000 thank yous.
"It's brilliant of them all and I feel the NHS really deserve it.
"They have been amazing. Each day they are risking their lives."
On Friday, April 17, the campaign had raised more than £89,000 for the NHS.
You can help Margaret's campaign by donating through her fundraising