A man is trekking the Great Wall of China to raise money for charity in memory of his brother who died after falling from his flat window.<br /><br />Lewis Mckay, 27, was just 22 when his brother Greg tragically died after accidentally falling from a flat window in Aberdeen in May 2020. <br /><br />Lewis, a travel agency assistant manager from Aberdeen will embark on a six day trek of the Great Wall of China in his brother's name to raise money for two charities close to his families’ heart. <br /><br />He will be on the trek on 12 May 2025 - the fifth anniversary of Greg’s death, and in the year he would have turned 30. <br /><br />Lewis said: “Ever since my brother passed away, I’ve been wanting to do something in his name. <br /><br />“I’ve been thinking for years and years what I could do and then a fundraiser came to mind. <br /><br />“I decided to trek the Great Wall of China - I’m a travel agent and am inspired by places around the world, and I just thought it’s the most extraordinary thing I could think of. <br /><br />“My mum’s absolutely delighted - I told my family about the fundraiser two weeks ago. She’s just brilliant, she does everything she can to keep my brother’s spirit alive.”<br /><br />Greg was 24 when he died in an accident just six months after setting up a home with his girlfriend in Aberdeen.<br /><br />Lewis said: “It’s been a real struggle, just so traumatic. <br /><br />“It happened during lockdown so it was literally a case of one day speaking to him on Facetime then the next day he was gone - it was such a shock. <br /><br />“The funeral was also during lockdown so we could only have about 20 people there."<br /><br />But hundreds of friends, family and Aberdeen F.C. supporters - the team Greg supported - lined the streets to pay their respects as his funeral cortege passed by.<br /><br />Lewis will begin his trek of the Great Wall of China on 10 May next year.<br /><br />He began his fundraising journey on 27 July with an initial aim of £5,000. <br /><br />However just days after launching it, he had nearly raised £2,000. <br /><br />He said: “I might have to raise the fundraising target - the support I’ve had already has been incredible."<br /><br />He is raising money for two charities close to his family's hearts - the Sunrise Partnership and Mental Health Aberdeen. <br /><br />Lewis said: “The Sunrise Partnership actually helped my family personally to process the loss of my brother. They work specifically with children who have been affected by bereavement and loss.<br /><br />“Then MHA supports people of all ages with mental health issues - it’s a local charity which does a lot of good in our community.”<br /><br />Lewis booked his trip with trekking company ‘Explore Worldwide’ and will spend six days scaling the wall. <br /><br />He said: “We’ll be trekking up to eight hours a day. Some people have asked ‘will you be trekking the whole thing’ but I don’t think people realise how huge it is - it would take 18 months to do the whole thing!<br /><br />“I’ll be spending the next nine months training - I plan to climb a few of the different mountains in Scotland in preparation and will be sharing updates on my social media accounts, including my Instagram @lewloves and Facebook page. <br /><br />“And on the last day of my trek, I’ll be trekking the Great Wall in a kilt!”<br /><br />You can find out more and donate to Lewis’s fundraiser here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lewis-trip-to-the-great-wall-of-china.
