Climb a mountain for David to help fund cardiac screening!

Hi, my name is Sharon, and I’m raising money to pay for cardiac screening for young people.

Three years ago, our son and brother David Hill died from Sudden Cardiac Death aged only 30, from an undiagnosed cardiac condition. David's whole family was devastated by his loss, and we will always miss him and cherish the memories we have.

This year, our fundraising challenge is to be sponsored to climb a mountain for David at some point between 19th March, as the anniversary of his death, and 19th September! This allows 6 months over the better weather to join in when you can.

I'd love as many people as possible, especially David's family and friends, to join us to climb Ben Lomond together (smallest mountain close to us and nice tourist trail) on 28th June, then share a picnic (weather dependant!) and memories of David at the bottom, or somewhere nearby.

However, there may be another date/place that suits you better, and your own mountain might not be that high, but we all can choose a challenge for ourselves to recognise. If you are climbing, can you please write his name on a small stone and take David with you to the top, and we can maybe build a few wee cairns to honour him. Anyone participating can send me their name and will be recognised as Team David and added to the team list below!

David was kind, generous and caring, with a wicked sense of humour. He was held in high regard by all who knew him, both socially and professionally at Holyrood, as an extraordinary man. David was an enthusiastic participant in most things sporting, as well as piping when he got the chance, but his love was for rugby. He pushed forward the resurgence of the Scottish Parliamentary RFC and played every opportunity he got, as well as supporting his beloved Scotland team!

In his name, we have set up the David Hill Memorial Fund with the support of Cardiac Risk in the Young (C-R-Y), who provide screening for young people aged 14-35, supporting families with a diagnosis and campaigning for a national screening programme to ensure all young people have access to safe and reliable screening for the conditions that cause Sudden Cardiac Death.

So far we have raised over £75,000 and screened over 200 people. It costs us £13,500 for 200 screenings, and we have a further 200 screenings on 12/13 April, and 600 more paid for between now and April 2026, so more young people can be screened. We hope it will save other families from living with the pain we now suffer, and all the money you donate will enable us to continue to make a difference in Dumfries and Galloway.

We cannot change our past, but with your help, together we can change the future for others!

TEAM DAVID

Sharon & Gordon Duncan

Scott, Ellie & Alfie Johnstone

Mhairi France

Sam & Euan Jarvie

Donna Johnstone