A WEE COUNTY walking group will honour the late Alison Fox with a memorial trek near to her birthday this summer.
The Clackmannanshire Hillwalking Club is to host the event on Sunday, July 22, as a fitting tribute to their friend and fellow member.
Alison died in the Ochils on March 1 after becoming lost during one of the worst snowstorms in recent memory.
Volunteers from the Ochil Mountain Rescue Team (OMRT) led an operation to find the 51-year-old, but were unable to reach her in time.
There has since been an outpouring of grief for Alison as many people recalled her giving nature and capacity to help good causes in Clacks.
Now her fellow hillwalkers are determined to toast her free spirit and to show some support to the OMRT members who risked their lives to try and save her.
They have set up a crowdfunder to raise money for the team, with their initial £700 target already reached and breached in days.
Iain Thomson, chairperson of the walking club, told the Advertiser that they wanted to pay tribute to a great person.
He said: “We have set up a walk around the date of her birthday to honour her. We have also set up a funding page to try and get some money for the OMRT.
“We have done this off our own back without any help from OMRT, although we have been in contact with them regarding it.
“We set an initial target of £700, but we’ll keep an eye on it and raise it if need be.”
Iain went on to pay personal tribute to Alison, previously described as a fiercely-independent woman.
He said: “She was one of our very first to join and is one of our longest serving members, if not the longest serving.
“She served as the secretary for a good while and was involved in absolutely everything. She done so much and organised so much for us and for the whole community.
“She was without doubt one of our most enthusiastic members. Without wanting to sound too cliché, she really will be sorely missed by everyone at the club.”
Anyone who would like to donate to the OMRT fund, can visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/chwcalisonfox
Details of the walk, and how to take part, are available at meetup.com/Clackmannanshire-Hill-Walking-Club/events/248439915
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here