The birthday of much-loved Perth restaurant founder - the late Paula De Sousa Tabourel - was marked by members of her family standing at the top of Ben Nevis this month.
Peaks4Paula was a fundraising challenge undertaken by her husband Hervé and daughter Roxanne, who were joined by several loyal friends to climb three of Britain’s highest mountain summits in just 24 hours.
The intrepid group left Perth on Saturday, May 20, going first to Wales .
The mum-of-two died suddenly in Perth on November 20, 2021 aged 53.
Last year, Roxanne, dad Hervé and her boyfriend Ross Phillips did a Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle challenge, raising £11,000 for their chosen charity, The British Red Cross.
The Peaks4Paula follow-up for 2023 has now raised more than £6000.
Roxanne dedicated both efforts to the honour of “my beautiful mama.”
Paula founded several Perth restaurants with husband Hervé and Cardo on South Street continues today, with Roxanne to the fore.
Everybody made it back to Perth without injury on Monday, May 22. They made a lightning-fast tour of the three peaks beginning at 8.30am on Sunday, May 21, aiming to go up and down Snowdon in four hours.
The team included Roxanne’s boyfriend Ross, who is credited with the majority of the trip organisation, Hervé’s friend from France, Matthieu Fricaudet, and Roxanne’s pals from St John’s Academy in Perth, Mhairi O’Donnell and Hannah Kerrigan.
Roxanne told the PA they ate a full cooked breakfast at a hostel then, in beautiful weather, “ran” up Mount Snowdon which was busy with more leisurely climbers.
They were down in three hours before setting off for Cumbria’s Scafell Pike in a minibus.
The motorway was shut at Liverpool so their drivers had to sweat it to keep the climbers on schedule.
They set off up Scafell Pike at 5.30pm on the Sunday. It was too steep to run up but Roxanne said everyone sprinted down.
When it came to climbing Ben Nevis, there were even more climbers, with Shannon Tierney, Jasmine McKay, Beth Cashin, plus PRI nurses Sarah Bonthrone and Tina Latto joining in. They began to tackle the Scottish peak at 2.45am, early on Monday 22.
As Roxanne saw sunrise, she said: “It was incredible. Very emotional for me and my dad. I’ve never felt my mum so present as it felt then. We tied a Portuguese flag to the summit and, having been so still, just then the wind began to blow it. It was almost spooky but very special.”
Ensuring the challenge to visit the three peaks worked were drivers David Kerrigan (Hannah’s dad) and Vincent O’Donnell.
Club 300 Perth ensured the big hike effort was seen on social media.
“Another mammoth challenge complete all in aid of a great cause and in memory of Paula,” the gym crew noted.
“To see this family heartbroken was tough to take … but to see them rise up again and find the strength, togetherness, drive and mindset to carry on has been inspirational.
“Well done to the rest of the team involved in this challenge.”
Donations flooded in - and continue to do so - via the fundraising page https://www.gofundme.com/f/peak-for-paula
Michael Gilbert saluted the walkers: “You’ve something incredible in Paula’s memory. A fantastic achievement.”
Roxanne thanked her supporters and said: “Thank you so much for all of your donations to the British Red Cross.
“Times are tough for everyone and so we are extremely grateful for your generosity, it’s very humbling.”
