Gary Ferguson recently returned from a two-week trek across Mongolia, which saw him scale several mountains to pay tribute to local ferry skipper Matt Ashwood, who died of cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic. The 57-year-old told the the gruelling challenge had been worth it to pay back the hospice for the support they had given his much-missed co-worker. He said: “I’m glad to have supported Ardgowan.
I spoke to Matt’s widow when I got back and she was very supportive. “She spoke very highly of the support Matt got here and the help she got after he had passed. “She was very pleased to see the amount of money raised and was very grateful to the hospice for everything they’ve done.
” Despite facing temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees, and having to scale peaks which were more than 13,000 feet high, Gary says the experience was an enjoyable one. “It was fantastic," he added. "It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit, and it lived up to every expectation.
“It was very isolated. When we got to base camp you were basically two days from the nearest village, let alone town, or any kind of help. “It’s a beautiful place and the locals were very helpful and friendly.
“It was tough going.When we got to high camp, we did what was called an 'alpine start', so you’re waking up at two or three o’clock in the morning. “On the first morning, when we were going to do the biggest peak, I woke up and wasn’t fit for it at all.
"By the time everyone came bac.