A FIREFIGHTER and his crew are set to carry on climbing for charity — until they reach the height of Mount Everest.

Retained fireman Lloyd Baillie will be going up and down his ladders all day in support of his sister, who has been diagnosed with incurable cancer.

He wants to scale 8,848 metres — which would equal the height of the world’s tallest peak — during an eight-hour shift in aid of Ardgowan Hospice.

He will be joined on his charity challenge by friends from other stations, including Gourock.

Lloyd, 44, of Skelmorlie, said: “I am a painter and decorator as well so I am used to going up and down ladders!

“We climb the ladders every Thursday in training but this will be a bit different.

“This is something that I really wanted to do for my sister and the hospice.

“There are 10 of us in Skelmorlie and the Largs crew said they would come along to help.

“We will put the ladders against the wall and take it in turns. The boys said it was quite a distance.”

The Skelmorlie team will be joined by fellow retained firefighters in Gourock and the Largs crew as well.

They are hoping there will be lots of people there to cheer them on for their charity challenge at Skelmorlie Fire Station tomorrow.

Lloyd says he’s been overwhelmed by the support shown to his sister Christine McAnespie, a nurse from Greenock.

Lloyd said: “I wanted to do something to help.

“People have been so supportive — we had a fundraiser for Christine in Greenock and it was packed with all her colleagues at the Larkfield Unit.”

During tomorrow’s charity challenge there will be lots of fun for families, with a bouncy castle, face-painting and other children’s activities, plus raffles, home-made baking and a bottle stall.

The climb starts at 10am with fun throughout the day and it is hoped the team will make it to the top by 6pm.