When Davy Ballantyne's young daughter fell ill he made her a promise.

Diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, an incurable disease, he knew Roisin would be faced with a daily struggle to keep her body healthy and well.

As her father, Davy wanted to show the 10-year-old how much he supported her fight so he pledged to take on a daily struggle of his own just for her.

"Big Davy", who is 6ft 4in, has now donned his kilt and is in the middle of an intense challenge to drag a 19st anvil up Goatfell mountain, the highest peak near their home in Arran.

"I needed something that was going to be a real struggle, because that's what diabetes is," says Davy, who is currently on day seven of his anvil challenge.

"I was toying with the idea of mountains because I'm always floating about the hills, and then I saw this old anvil in the garage at work. I thought, if I can lift it off the ground then I can get it up the mountain."

Now, out each day for as many hours as he can physically manage, Davy is working his way up to the 2866ft peak, dragging the anvil by rope as he goes.

"I think I've got another ten days in me," he says. "The bit I'm on now is probably the worst bit but tomorrow we should hopefully see the mountain properly. Bit by bit I'll get it up there."

For the 54-year-old, who had not seen the inside of a gym until a few months before he started the challenge, it has been a massive physical undertaking.

"I'm not a sportsman or gym man I can assure you - God no," he says. "Unless by sport you mean drinking or smoking."

As his daughter was forced to drastically change her diet and lifestyle to cope with her illness, Davy joined her.

He has lost almost two stone training for the challenge and is now able to carry the anvil around 500ft higher each day, before leaving it to return the next day and take up where he left off.

Davy has become something of a popular sight on the mountain over the last week, receiving plenty of cheerful waves from climbers, and he has the growing support of the island community.

"People on the island have been quite incredible about it," he says. "My wife set up a page to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who are trying to find a cure for children like Roisin.

"You think they must be too young for that kind of illness but then you step into the hospital ward and see just how many children there are."

Type-1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas (a small gland behind the stomach) does not produce any insulin.

An autoimmune condition, blood vessels, nerves and organs can be damaged if insulin injections are not taken each day.

"It's a struggle," says Davy, "We wanted to raise awareness of just how challenging it can be."

So far, Davy has raised close to £6000 to support further research into the illness which currently affects 6,400 families in Scotland.

It comes at the same time as the much welcomed news that a major trial is set to start in Scotland aimed at preventing type-1 diabetes in children.

Scotland has the third highest rate of type-1 diabetes in the world, and a good system of record to identify affected families.

The researchers say if it is successful the trial will offer a cost-effective way of preventing type-1 diabetes that could be made available immediately to children at risk.

"It's fantastic news," says Davy. "Hopefully the funds we've raised can help the trial further."

As well as generously donating to Davy's pledge to Roisin, Arran residents have also launched a campaign to keep the anvil at the top of the mountain once Davy drags it up there.

"It has captured the imagination a bit, I think," he says with a laugh.

"I've also had a generous offer from the rangers who have said they can helicopter it back to the bottom for me if I need a hand.

"I'm not too bothered either way if it stays there or not. I wouldn't want it to be an eyesore. But if it might end up meaning something to people about the struggles that some of us face, then I'm happy for it to stay up there."

The islanders aren't the only ones backing Davy all the way up the mountain though.

His biggest fan still waits each day to welcome him home when he's done.

"Roisin says she's quite happy with the whole thing," says Davy. "She always asks how I got on each day. I think she's quite proud."

If you would like to support Davy's mission for Roisin you can visit the anvil challenge donation page.