93-Year-Old Great Grandmother, Known for Her $546,000 Charitable Climbing Odyssey During Covid Lockdown, Passes Away

The 93-year-old sensation of the Scottish Highlands, the beacon of inspiration during the tumultuous time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Margaret Payne passed away on December 10, a day before her birthday. Payne had come to the limelight during the difficult time when the world was under lockdown. It was she who raised money by climbing the stairs in her house not once, not twice, but a little less than 300 times. 

Her extraordinary journey, marked by her attempt to climb stairs so many times, was equivalent to the height of Suilven. In this way, Margaret Payne endeared herself to the nation, brought herself out of the pattern of excuses, and helped in fighting the pandemic with fundraising within the comfort of her home. 

93-year-old’s climbing ascent for charity

When the world went under the pangs of depression being homebound for so long, as the pandemic spread its rage outside, the grandmother found a unique way to make a difference. Shielding at home, Margaret Payne accepted the stair-climbing challenge and completed climbing it 282 times. 

Her cumulative efforts and the height of her climbs tallies with the iconic Suilven mountain that stands at 2398ft. However, the stair-climbing feat was not a personal challenge or recreation, since it eventually became a significant fundraising initiative. Her climbing efforts raised an amount of $547k that went to the assistance of NHS Highland, RNLI, NHS Charities Together, and Highland Hospice. 

In an interview with Ross-shire Journal, the head of the income and development of the Highland Hospice, Andrew Leaver, paid tribute, sharing his views about her, “Over three months she went up those stairs 282 times and in the process raised nearly half a million pounds for charity and was feted across the UK as a lockdown hero. The Margaret I met that spring was an unassuming, joyful lady, selflessly making the most of a difficult time. I feel privileged to have met her.” Hence, the impact of her climbing found a way into her charitable triumph and evolved to be a beacon of generosity. 

Margaret Payne acquired royal recognition too!

In her fundraising journey, Margaret Payne sought inspiration from the experience of climbing Suilven when she was only 15 years old. This time, however, her efforts did not go unnoticed since her name was included in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Payne was awarded the British Empire Medal and even received commendations in the Scottish Parliament. Her selfless dedication to the community earned the climber a heartfelt letter of congratulation from Prince Charles. 

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As taken from an old interview, as Payne shared a glimpse of her journey with Press and Journal, she said, “It was disheartening at first when the money wasn’t coming through but as soon as it started up, it was a big incentive.” Before Margaret Payne, it was Captain Tom Moore who became the talk of the town, as he completed 100 laps of his garden ahead of his 100th birthday and in this attempt raised millions of pounds that went to the NHS. Drawing inspiration from him, the grandmother embarked on her climbing challenge on an Easter Sunday. 

Margaret Payne’s stair-climbing challenge serves as a reminder that age is just a number. Her life stands as a testament to the power of determination, kindness, and community spirit in the wake of the deadly pandemic. As she leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience, the Highland heroine will be remembered forever. 

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