GO Ape will aim to raise £1,000 for specialist charity, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland), to support those affected by the conditions.

The UK’s leading outdoor forest adventure company has chosen to focus on local charities for its 31 locations in 2017 and staff at the Aberfoyle adventure in Stirlingshire have selected SBH Scotland as their charity partner of the year.

Taking their mantra of ‘living life adventurously’ to a new level, the thrill-seeking team at Go Ape will embark on a series of fundraising challenges throughout the season.

Site manager Steven McGirr, 29, has already taken the fundraising pledge to new heights, with an abseil 100ft off the iconic Falkirk Wheel – the world’s first and only rotating boat lift – to raise over £400 for the charity.

The team is also planning their very own charity hill challenge, which will see them climb seven hills to mark each letter of their site name, GO APE AB, as well as a gorilla and banana themed bake sale.

Steven said: "Go Ape is all about encouraging people to live life adventurously and we are very proud to support SBH Scotland, this dedicated charity which makes a significant difference to charity members and their families."

With the help of Go Ape’s support, the charity will continue to provide personalised home and hospital support for families in Scotland with children who are affected by the lifelong complex disabilities of spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

SBH Scotland was formed in 1965 by a group of parents who each had a child with spina bifida (a fault in the spine which occurs during pregnancy) and/or hydrocephalus, a condition where increased pressure on the brain can cause social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural difficulties.

Now 50 years later, the charity supports over 3,500 children, young people, adults, their family members and carers every year in Scotland whilst retaining its family orientated approach.

Deborah Roe, fundraising director at SBH Scotland, said: "In order to continue providing care to families who need it the most, we must raise at least £1million each year.

"We are hugely grateful to the team at Go Ape Aberfoyle for dedicating their time and effort to help us reach our goal. We can’t wait to see what mischief they get up to."

Go Ape is well on its way to becoming the world’s number one adventure company, where families and friends can live life adventurously and be home in time for tea.

Set in 31 beautiful UK parkland locations from Scotland to London, they offer an exhilarating day out, where you can explore the forest from a new perspective and experience nature in the tree canopy high above the ground.

Go Ape Aberfoyle in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, has just become a dual course which can welcome even more monkeys to the trees.

The whole site has undergone a complete transformation with the addition of two giant Tarzan swings, two high speed cross-valley zip lines and a bold skateboard zip wire.

Visitors can unleash their inner Ape in the great outdoors, flying down zip wires, leaping off Tarzan swings and navigating obstacles, crossings and rope bridges set amidst some of the country’s most breath-taking scenery.

In 2016, Go Ape donated over £103k in cash and gift vouchers to good causes, including a cheque for over £58,000 to Outward Bound Trust.

For further information, visit goape.co.uk