A Perthshire man is jetting off to climb Romania’s highest mountain next month for a charity close to home.
Jock Mcinnes MBE from Crieff, will tackle the Modoveanu Peak to raise funds for his nephew’s son.
Two-year-old Lloyd Penman from Fife is the only child in Scotland to suffer from the rare condition STXBP1 encephalopathy with epilepsy.
It causes the child to suffer from 20 seizures every day.
Lloyd’s condition is an extremely rare gene mutation characterised by seizures and abnormal brain function, which will cause developmental problems, possibly autism and may leave Lloyd unable to ever walk or talk fully.
Only around 300 people have it worldwide.
Now Jock is doing his part to raise funds to try and find a cure.
He said: “Lloyd is such a wonderful lovely little boy and it has been such a hard time for the family.
“He has had the condition since birth and it has put a lot of strain on the family.
“It is a very rare disease and the money raised will help going into the future with his condition.”
The Moldoveanu Peak is almost twice the height of Scotland’s biggest mountain Ben Nevis.
Jock will set off in September and is expected to take four days to complete the daunting challenge.
The 62-year-old, who works for Sense Scotland in Dundee, has already raised almost £2 million for local and national charities, having taken on some of the most treacherous terrains in the world.
In 2014, Jock was honoured by the Queen with an MBE for his services to charity.
Having tackled every trip in a kilt, he said he will be the first to climb the Romanian mountain in the traditional Scottish uniform.
He added: “I have been all around the world, walking through the Sahara and Gobi Desert and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to name a few.
“I have always done my trips in a kilt and I have been informed I will be the first to climb Moldoveanu Peak in one.
“I always hand out little Scotland badges on my trips, so people can always remember us.
“At the moment I am just over the £800 mark, so hopefully I can get to £1000.
“I am going out myself and meeting another 14 people who are attempting it for fun.
“It’s a real off the beaten track adventure, which adds to the experience.
“It is an excellent challenge to take part in and hopefully it can do some good.”
To donate, contact Jock on jockmcinnes@sensescotland.org.uk.
