My niece Hazel was tragically killed in a car accident in May 2017 an event which broke the hearts of all who knew her. Hazel was a dynamic character, with a passion for fun, adventure and the outdoors. Qualifying as an outdoor instructor in Scotland, before moving to Cornwall and starting a family, she dedicated her life to working with children and young adults, sharing her enthusiasm and love of wild places. She volunteered as a scout leader, ran Duke of Edinburgh award expeditions, and worked alongside children in schools and playgroups. My fondest memories of Hazel are the times we spent climbing or wandering the Cairngorms together.

In honour of Hazel’s life, a trust has been set up to provide opportunities for young people to have adventures, a cause that she would have wholeheartedly supported. My intention is to raise as much money as possible to support this cause, but also to share the experience of doing so with those who would like to join me on the hill. My aim is to complete a “round” of the Munros before my 50th birthday in 2020. As I have 118 left to do and the nearest one is over 400miles from where I live, this is not going to be easy!

All donations will be passed on to the trust, I am not asking people to fund my jollies. This is currently listed here as “crowdfunding,” as the trust is still being set up and registered.

I plan to sponsor myself at £10 a hill, which adds up to £1180 if I do them all!

I will be writing a blog to cover progress, show photos, and divulge any (hopefully) amusing anecdotes. This can be found here: https://wordpress.com/post/hikesforhazel

There is also a Facebook group for info and, if you feel that way inclined, to join in: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132146480708389/

Thank you. Hopefully we can provide the opportunities to inspire young people to follow a path like Hazel’s, and bring more smiles and adventure into the world of youngsters.