Wee Hamish knocks it out of the park in CP Walk ‘n’ Roll challenge

A little ray of sunshine has been spreading joy in Fort William over the last month - in all weathers.

Three-year-old Hamish Pollok has smashed his £100 fundraising target and brought smiles to the faces of everyone he has met on his mile-a-day Walk ‘n’ Roll challenge for National Cerebral Palsy (CP) Awareness Month.

Hamish has diplegic CP and walks with a frame, raised £526 with the total rising daily.

A popular pupil at Stramash and Lundavra, Hamish was born two months early and was diagnosed with Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) - a type of brain injury that affects premature babies. His CP is due to his PVL.

Hamish is a determined wee boy and loves to challenge himself. Although he is only three he aware he has an illness and if any of his friends ask him why he can’t walk properly he tells them he has cerebral palsy.

He’s been doing a lot of his walks along Fort William High Street where he enjoys the attention he gets from people while raising awareness of what CP looks like.

Hamish has also been walking along the water front and around his neighbourhood in Upper Achintore.

Hamish lives with mum Sarah, dad Steven and big sister Millie who is seven. Millie often joins him on his walks - if it is dry!

Dad Steven, a mountaineer, is keen to get Hamish up Ben Nevis but mum Sarah thinks ‘that’s a challenge for when he’s a bit bigger’.

Hamish, however, is keen on following in his dad and sister’s footsteps and can’t wait to go to the Three Wise Monkeys to climb up the big wall.

Sarah said: “Hamish has been through so much already, especially recently, but he never lets anything dampen his spirit.

“He is strong, resilient and determined to live his best life.

“We decided to fundraise to help CP Scotland and raise awareness of the condition.

“Many people hear his diagnosis and think negative thoughts and Hamish is underestimated all the time. Big mistake.

“Hamish uses his frame to walk and is always on the go so it will be hard tracking exactly what exercise he will do but we are going to aim for a one mile walk a day for the whole of March.”

To donate to Hamish’s fundraiser go to his Facebook fundraising page Walk ‘n’ Roll challenge for Cerebral Palsy Scotland.