A SOUTH Ayrshire mum is preparing for an extraordinary journey to Everest Base Camp to honour the memory of her friend and raise important funds for MND Scotland.

Kelly Huxtable, 51, will head to the world's highest mountain on November 30 to celebrate Elizabeth 'Betty' Casagrandam who bravely fought against motor neuron disease (MND).

Betty was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother who was diagnosed with MND in her 50s, and lived well into her 80s.

During this time, she showed immense courage and resilience and touched the lives of everyone around her.

Speaking about how they first met, Kelly said: “I’m a hairdresser by trade, and I first met Betty when I was working at the sheltered accommodation complex she was living at. I got to know her over the 12 years until she died from pneumonia in 2021.

“When I first met her, she was in a wheelchair, and at that point, she was still able to lean over the sink so I could wash her hair. But that stopped after a few years.

"Despite having no speech at all, people around her knew what she was trying to say, and I could always understand her”.

(Image: MND Scotland) MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles.

This can cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, swallow or breathe and the average life expectancy is just 18 months from diagnosis.

Kelly added: “Her lovely family watched Betty struggle daily with this cruel disease, which she fought with determination, courage, and sheer stubbornness.

"She never complained, and her sense of humour was amazing. Not a week passed that I never left her without laughing at something or someone”.

By taking on the Everest Base Camp Trek, Kelly hopes to carry Betty's legacy forward and help raise important awareness about MND.

Kelly said: “My brother-in-law, Andy Huxtable, has raised thousands of pounds for MND Scotland and recently held a very successful charity golf event at Royal Troon, so I wanted to do something personally to help raise funds.

“My friend had already signed up for the trek challenge for another charity, and after hearing about what was involved, I decided that it was something I wanted to do in memory of Betty, and I booked flights the next day."

The challenge itself will take approximately 11 days to complete and include a total of 80 miles of walking and climbing through different terrains and altitudes across Nepal.

With the help of her personal trainer Jack Boyd, Kelly has been preparing for this epic challenge and every step of the trek will be dedicated to Betty.

Kelly will be joined by her two friends and sponsored by her husband, Alan Huxtable, owner of Huxtable Design and Build, and his business partner, Callum Douglas, co-owner of CAAN Design, who will kindly supply them with branded kit, sponsorship, and everything the team will need to complete the trek.

The funds raised by Kelly will directly contribute to research initiatives aimed at finding a cure for MND and enhancing support services for those affected by the disease.

If you would like to donate to her page, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/kelly-huxtable-1720889506276.