Ailie, a Senior School pupil at Robert Gordon’s College, completed an extraordinary personal challenge, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and raising more than £12,000 for local children’s charity Charlie House.

The seven-day ascent of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain coincided with a very special moment for Ailie, who celebrated her 14th birthday during the climb. Reaching the summit of the 5,895-metre peak with her father, Craig, the duo more than doubled their original fundraising target of £5,000 thanks to the generous support of family, friends, and the wider school community.

Ailie said: ““To raise over £12,000 for a great local cause is just incredible. We’re so grateful to everyone who
supported us.

"It was amazing. The people, the culture, and being in a place so different to home were just some of the best parts for me. Some moments of the challenge were tough such as the slow trek on the way up to avoid altitude sickness and the midnight starts on summit day, but overall, it was incredible. We reached the top at sunrise and were looking out over the clouds. It was so cold at the summit, around minus 10 degrees. It was covered in snow but still sunny - it was out of this world.

“I’m so grateful and glad I got the chance to do it for a cause like Charlie House, that really means a lot to me. The challenge was 100 per cent worth it as you feel a real sense of pride afterwards. I’d love to inspire more people to take on a challenge, especially for charity. No matter what age you are, fundraising is an amazing thing to do.”

In preparation for the challenge, Ailie and her dad undertook months of training, hiking across the Scottish hills with weighted backpacks to simulate the physical demands of the Kilimanjaro terrain. Their efforts paid off as they joined a guided team through a diverse landscape of rainforest, rocky paths, and snowy summit conditions, often enduring sub-zero temperatures and high altitudes.

Ailie’s birthday was marked in a truly memorable way when one of the local guides surprised her with a handmade cake, two days before reaching the summit - a moment she says she’ll never forget.

Katie Bremner, Community and Events Fundraiser at Charlie House, praised Ailie’s determination: ““We are so grateful to Ailie for taking on such an epic challenge in support of Charlie House. Her maturity, selflessness and determination have been incredible to witness. The funds she has raised will make a real and lasting difference for the children and families we support across North-East
Scotland. A huge thank you to Ailie and Dad Craig for choosing to raise much-needed funds for us.”

Charlie House is currently working towards building a dedicated specialist care facility in Aberdeen and continues to offer practical, emotional, and inclusive support to families throughout the region. To find out more or to begin your own fundraising journey, visit www.charliehouse.org.uk/support-us/raise-funds.