A MUSSELBURGH dad-of-two with a chronic disease which affects his lungs scaled Ben Nevis at the weekend to raise awareness of a charity, which has helped his family.

Lawrie Reynolds, 30, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, was in expert hands during the climb as he was accompanied by his sister Yvonne’s partner Paul Brett, a mountaineer and the 2015 Mountain Photographer of the Year.

The intrepid pair wanted to highlight the work of the Butterfly Trust, which supports people with the lung condition and their relatives.

The organisation was of great help when Lawrie’s sister Hayley, who also had Cystic Fibrosis, died five years ago in hospital at the age of 21 after contracting pneumonia. She had been studying accountancy and finance at university.

Lawrie, a chef and long-distance lorry driver, has raised thousands of pounds for the charity since the family lost Hayley but stressed that it wasn’t all about the money.

He explained: “I want to raise awareness about the trust. It is a remarkable charity and does a tremendous job. It is based on the outskirts of Edinburgh but covers the whole of Scotland. You can count the number of full-time staff on two hands and the rest of the work is done by volunteers who are always needed. They have always been there for me.”

He explained that the trust offered a range of services including organising transport for hospital appointments, providing therapy massage and a bereavement service.

Lawrie, a former pupil of the Burgh Primary and Musselburgh Grammar schools, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of four after he kept falling ill.

The inherited condition is caused by a faulty gene that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. This causes mucus to gather in the lungs and digestive system, and creates a range of challenging symptoms.

More than half of the cystic fibrosis population in the UK will live past 41, and improved care and treatments mean a baby born today is expected to live even longer.

Lawrie, who takes daily medication, added: “I am fighting fit. I am very, very fortunate to keep as well as I do. I put it down to my diet, active lifestyle and job.

“I look at it as a catalyst to achieve more. I don’t let anything get in my way. If there is a mountain there, I’ll climb it.”

Lawrie and Paul left Musselburgh in the early hours of Saturday morning bound for Ben Nevis, where they opted to use a longer route not used by tourists to reach the summit in six hours, taking a further two hours to descend the mountain.

Lawrie said: “It was hard work but was a great sense of achievement.”

Their efforts have so far raised £320 for the Butterfly Trust.

Donations can be made via justgiving.com/fundraising/Lawrieandpaulbennevisclimb