A MOUNTAIN rescuer will attempt to smash a world record when he climbs Ben Nevis with 100kg on his back.
On Wednesday night David Dooher will begin the mammoth challenge to raise vital funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
The charity helps to fund research into finding a cure for motor neurone disease in memory of Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir who died from the condition last year.
If Dooher completes the climb – with what is the equivalent of the weight of a giant panda on his back - he will be the proud holder of a Guinness World Record.
So far, the Uddingston man has bagged several Munros with a barbell on his back including Ben Vorlich with 95kg and Ben Lomond with 75kg, but this will be his toughest challenge yet.
Dooher, who has raised more than £10,000 for the charity, said: “The pain in my back, neck and shoulders is impossible to ignore and manage, however I want to symbolise the burden carried by the people who live with MND and their families as much as possible.
“Reaching the summit of Ben Vorlich at 3300 ft with nearly 100kg on my back was probably my highlight so far. It was a very challenging day.”
Dooher, who will also celebrate his 38th birthday on Wednesday, has trained six days per week, every week, for the last six months and has upped his calorie intake beyond 4000 calories during his training.
The dad-of-two, who has been an active Mountain Rescue member for several years, will meet his support team at the Ben Nevis Inn at 5.30pm on Wednesday, before setting off at 7pm.
He added: “We wanted to climb in the evening to minimise disruption to other hillwalkers. My goal is to reach the summit by 7am.
“With the fine weather it should make for an amazing sunset and sunrise. I am worried about injury, but I’ve prepared mentally, and I will keep going until the job is done.
“I want it to be difficult and painful. I've already been emotional during some walks just because of the pain and exhaustion, but that adds to the magnitude for me so I'm not afraid to show it.
“I’ve received so many lovely messages from families of people diagnosed or whose family have passed away due to MND. That reinforces the reasons for why I'm tackling the task. I’ll be thinking about Doddie with every step.
“It’s been a big sacrifice. I’ll take a week off to recover once I’m done and maybe start planning a wee holiday when it’s all over. “
Paul Thompson, director of fundraising at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “We are blown away by David’s efforts. His training alone is unthinkable.
“We will all be rooting for him and are very proud that Doddie’s legacy continues to inspire people to do incredible things and push beyond their limits, all to find a cure for MND.
“We are very grateful to him, and to everyone who has donated.”
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