Hikers plan to honour war dead and those lost in Covid-19 pandemic
An annual trek up Britain's tallest mountain in aid of charity will take place later this month.
A total of 22 hikers from Dudley, including Councillor Steve Waltho, will make the journey to Scotland on August 13.
They aim to scale Ben Nevis on August 14 and visit the grave of former peace campaigner Bert Bissell MBE on August 15.
The annual event first began in 2013 in Mr Bissell's memory. He was a peace campaigner and mountain climber who was born in Dudley.
Mr Bissell passed away in 1998 at the age of 96. He is buried at Glen Nevis cemetery which is located at the foot of Ben Nevis, a mountain he scaled 107 times.
He left a peace cairn on its summit which is today considered the highest war memorial in Britain.
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On August 15, 1945, on Victory over Japan Day, Mr Bissell was near the mountain. Upon hearing the news, he built the cairn.
Ahead of the annual trek, the hikers have appealed for fundraising to charitable causes.
These are for the First Coseley Scouts, the Edwards Trust and the Shaz Saleem Foundation.
All money raised will go specifically to helping people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Councillor Waltho said: "This will be a no frills visit. We came so close to cancelling this year's event.
"Twenty-two intrepid individuals were determined to not only utilise the event to raise money for charity, but also to honour the 75th anniversary [of VJ Day], where we intend to place wreaths on Bert's grave and the summit cairn to remember those lost in war and also those lost in the Covid-19 pandemic."
