A teenager is embarking on a series of personal challenges to remember her adventurous grandad who died from a brain tumour.
Ella Marsh has set herself 16 challenges to complete ahead of her 16th birthday next month.
Nicknamed ‘Challenge 16’, she has so far swum the 2,000 metre length of Lake Buttermere and climbed all 978 metres of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain. Upcoming challenges include completing a 16km triathlon, delivering a 16-minute lecture at a local museum and doing a skydive on her birthday on Sunday 4th September.
Her adventures are inspired by her grandad, Colin Morath, who died at the age of 76 in August 2011, shortly before Ella’s fifth birthday. Colin was very active, and enjoyed running, cycling, skiing and climbing mountains. He had run marathons, climbed in the Himalayas and was a founding member of Abbey Runners in Leeds.
Following in her grandad’s thrill-seeking footsteps, Ella is aiming to raise £1,600 for Brain Tumour Research.
She said: “I remember going on many hikes together and walks along the beach. My grandad also taught me how to ski and even started me climbing; I am grateful to have had him in my life even if it was just for a short period of time. I know that he would be extremely proud and tell me to ‘go for it’ and he’d most certainly want to join in with the activities, especially the mountaineering.”
To see the full list of challenges and help Ella reach her fundraising target, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ella-Marsh3
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