A little seven-year-old Co Armagh schoolgirl scaled Slieve Donard and raised more than £3,500 for a schoolfriend currently battling a brain tumour.
Maisie Black, from Hamiltonsbawn, reached the summit – and highest point – of the Mourne Mountains on August 12, all in aid of schoolgirl Ella Anderson.
Related: Hamiltonsbawn girl Ella a real fighter as she continues treatment for brain tumour
Ella was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour at the start of the year and has been battling surgeries, proton beam therapy and now chemotherapy, for months.
Maisie, along with her mum Leanne, and a group of Leanne’s fitness group, took to the challenge with aplomb.
Said Leanne: “Maisie almost ran up the mountain. She did amazing and there was not one complaint from her. She knew she was doing it for a really good cause and it meant an awful lot to her.
“Some of the girls who took part really struggled, it was a hard climb, but everyone made it to the top and it was a big achievement for them all.”
Leanne added: “We also met people going up the mountain who had seen Maisie on Armagh I a few weeks ago and gave her cash donations! It made her feel famous.”
Leanne said the handing over of the cheque was “very emotional”.
Maisie Black and Ella Anderson
“A lot of the girls who took part were in tears and just found it very hard to take it in seeing little Ella in person,” she said.
“But her mum and dad were very, very grateful of the fundraising and we made up a little goodie bag of toys and gifts for Ella which Maisie gave to her and she loved that! It was a very worthwhile thing to do for sure and something Maisie will never forget.”
