Jake Gives Big Thank You To Forth Valley Nurses

An eight-year old boy from Stirling has donated almost £300 to the children's ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital as a thank you for the care he received. Jake Downey braved the cold and climbed more than three thousand feet up a mountain to achieve his fundraising dream.

Jake was admitted to hospital in December 2011 when his appendix ruptured, and had to stay in the children's ward for four days over Christmas. Jake who was seven at the time wrote a thank you letter to nurses when he returned home, but still wanted to do something more.

With help from friends and family he organised a sponsored climb of Ben Lomond which he completed with his parents in September 2012 - raising nearly £300 for the children's ward.

Mum Susan came along to Forth Valley Royal Hospital with Jake after school, to present the generous gift: He wrote the letter first but then decided he'd like to do something else. We thought through lots of different ways to raise money, but in the end we decided on a mountain climb.

When we started the weather was cold, and as we climbed higher it got much colder and cloudier! Jake just wanted a way to say a big thank you to all the staff who cared for him.

Despite the extreme weather Jake kept going and managed to make it to the summit in just under six hours.

Delighted staff in the department gratefully accepted the donation and promised Jake the money would be spent on making the ward even better for children his age this Christmas.

The eight year old is now back enjoying school and is looking forward to a family holiday in Wales.