A CARDENDEN mum diagnosed with cervical cancer has praised her son and his friends for scaling Ben Nevis for charity.

Karen Whyte, who received the dreaded news last year, was supremely proud after her son Jack Scott, and pals Caitlin and Cerys Jamieson, climbed Scotland's highest mountain for Cancer Research UK.

The girls took on the challenge after their gran, Pauline Jamieson, died of cancer and, together, the three sixth year students at Lochgelly High School have raised over £1,000.

They're hoping the total may rise even further and Karen, of Kirkburn Drive, was delighted with their efforts.

"They all did fantastically," she said. "It only took them three hours to go up and I think it was about the same going back down. The weather was fine for them although it was heavy rain as they got near the top.

"They absolutely loved it and they had a really good day."

After suffering a tough few months since being diagnosed in November, Karen has now completed her treatment and said it was emotional thinking about what her son and his friends had done.

"I am so proud," she added. "When he first told me about it, I was in tears. For being only 16 and to do something like that, I didn't have any words."

Anyone wanting to donate to Jack, Caitlin and Cerys' fundraising effort https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Caitlin-Jamieson.