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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
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Gemma Ryder & Katie Williams

Scottish Dad speaks out over challenges faced as he climbs Everest as Spiderman

A Scottish dad known for fundraising dressed as superhero Spiderman has spoken out after he climbed Everest base camp.

Dave Roper and his father Kevin scaled the base camp for 11 days to raise thousands of pounds for Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity. But known as the 'Dulcoh Spiderman', Dave stuck to his tradition and did it dressed as the Marvel character.

The 39-year-old, from Dunfermline, climbed 17,600ft up the Himalayan mountain, battling altitude sickness along the way, to reach his goal on April 30.

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Having reached base camp, the ex-soldier showed off his famous Spidey suit by posing in some of the Marvel hero's best-known stances.

Speaking to the Record from Nepal, the dad said: "Completing this incredible challenge with my dad is one of the best things that I have ever done. An experience that neither of us will ever forget, memories that will last a lifetime, what an adventure.

"Raising over £6,500 for Edinburgh Sick Kids is the icing on the cake. It’s been phenomenal.

It was certainly tough going but the views were worth it."

As well as raising cash, Dave also paid his own tribute to a young Fife man who recently lost his life. At the base camp he laid a memorial to Conor Burns, who suffered from cerebral palsy, after striking a bond with the 24-year-old before he died.

He's raised thousands for Edinburgh Sick Kids (Daily Record)

Dave even made time to surprise local kids with a visit from the web-slinger - with one boy joining him in his own Spidey suit.

The pair posed together for some sweet pictures before he got back on his way up the mountain. But Dave and his dad didn't rest on their laurels when they reached base camp.

This morning they trekked 5,535m up Kala Patthar - a landmark ridge - to see the sunrise over the peak of Mount Everest. They now face a three-day journey down the mountain before a five-hour drive back to Kathmandu.

Dave made headlines in lockdown when he pounded the streets in Dunfermline in a bid to put a smile on kids faces who were stuck inside and has since gone on to raise thousands for different charities.

You can donate to Dave's Everest trek fundraiser here.

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