A CUMNOCK pensioner has helped raise over £500 for charity by climbing to the summit of Goatfell.

Margaret Welsh, 69, has been volunteering with Irvine-based charity Food Train since it launched two years ago. She and 14 of her colleagues, including her daughter, Food Train regional manager Marri, took on the task.

The group scaled the 2,867ft mountain on Saturday, June 3 and Margaret was delighted.

She said: “It was quite a challenge but a case of mind over matter, and it was a brilliant feeling to reach the summit.”

Former Cumnock Academy pupil Marri, 42, added: “Climbing Goatfell with the team was a tremendous achievement, with 14 adults, two ten year olds, two dogs, and of course my lovely mum.

“With her 70th birthday fast approaching, I was very proud to see her march, climb and crawl to the summit.”

Charity Food Train provide vital support services to enable older people to live independently at home for as long as possible.

Their preventative services address the difficulty older people face getting their weekly grocery shopping, doing jobs around the house and the growing isolation that comes with failing health.

Every Tuesday, Margaret gets two buses through to Irvine where she starts her shift at 8am. She assists in making up all the shopping orders in the supermarket before heading out with a driver to make all the deliveries.

Margaret enjoys volunteering with Food Train and said: “It certainly keeps me active – I enjoy the team work, and meeting the lovely customers who really appreciate the service, that makes it all very worthwhile. Plus it’s nice to work with my daughter Marri who is the regional manager.”