North Berwick Law conquered by Heather Cobban for Stepping Out

Heather Cobban, from North Berwick, completed her challenge on Friday, also taking on the climb in memory of her parents, Alice and Jimmy Cobban, who had their first date on the Law.

Heather has progressive multiple sclerosis, a debilitating condition that means she has poor mobility and strength in the right side of her body and which will continue to deteriorate over time.

Heather, 61, described the climb, which took her 90 minutes, as an “enormous challenge” but was proud that she was able to accomplish something memorable for herself, her family and Stepping Out.

She said: “I’m relieved it is over but proud I was able to do it. I had started to doubt myself.”

She praised Sally Hetherington, support worker at Stepping Out, adding: “I can’t thank Sally enough, who has been my trainer for the last eight weeks.

“It’s a dream that I’ve had since five years ago – now my dream has become a reality. I was very emotional at the top, but I felt on top of the world.”

She was joined by Border Search and Rescue, Ann Richardson from Stepping Out, as well as Claire Mackenzie and Antony Stone from Venturing Out.

Heather Cobban has conquered North Berwick Law

Heather also wanted to thank everyone who had donated money and said she was “blown away” by the support from people she didn’t even know.

Stepping Out helped her overcome the demons that came with a long and abusive relationship.

Heather said: “With that type of marriage, I couldn’t see any way out – they saved my life. Thanks to them I was safe, I was free.”

Sally said that it meant so much that a member of the community was giving something back and she was proud of Heather.

She said: “We were incredibly proud.

“It’s the ultimate win [for Stepping Out], it’s total job satisfaction to bring back a bit of purpose in someone’s life – it’s very powerful.”

The commemorative stone Heather left in memory of her parents

Heather’s parents had their first ever date at North Berwick Law and she said it was special that she was able to remember them by doing the climb, on what would have been her mother’s 95th birthday.

She said: “My mum would be very proud; my parents were the most amazing people.

“I looked up at the sky and said: ‘I’m here mum, I did it, I’m walking where you walked.’”

Heather said she felt “inspired” when she reached the top of the Law, and she had a message for other people with disabilities who were thinking about taking on a similar challenge.

She said: “It doesn’t matter what disability you have; you can start by doing a wee thing or a big thing.

“Do what you can when you can, have a small goal to start, then another goal.

“It’s a journey and one day you will reach the end.”

Already, more than £500 has been raised in donations to Stepping Out via justgiving.com/fundraising/heather-cobban