Rugby star’s praise for Amir’s Ben Nevis climb
A TEENAGER from Aberdare has climbed Britain’s highest mountain for the #StayStrongForOws appeal – and he was congratulated by a star of the rugby world on Twitter.
Having already climbed Wales’ highest peak last year, 13-year-old Amir Saleh has now gone one further by conquering Ben Nevis and raising a further £1,000 for injured rugby star Owen Williams’ cause.
Amir completed the challenge alongside Owen’s brother Gavin Williams, and it took them around six hours and 20 minutes to complete.
During November 2014, while on tour in the Northern Hemisphere, Australian rugby star Quade Cooper visited Owen in hospital where he was being treated for his serious spinal cord injury.
And, having heard about Aberdare Community School pupil Amir’s efforts, the Wallabies flyhalf shared his congratulations to the teenager with his 470,000 followers on Twitter.
He posted: “Congrats @Amir_Saleh_123 for climbing mount Nevis and also raising money for @Owilliams91 in the process! Well done.”
Gavin said: “I’m very proud of Amir for completing the walk and all his efforts to raise money for Owen. He truly is a remarkable young boy which I am very proud of.
“The idea came when we were coming back down Snowdon last year, and Amir asked what the next biggest mountain was.
“I said it was Ben Nevis, and I’d definitely be up for that – though we’d have to do some training for it first.
“We were going to do it in Easter but the weather wasn’t great.
“We climbed on Tuesday and the conditions were unbelievable.
“They say every one in 10 days you get a really good view from the top and we were really lucky.”
Amir said the climb was difficult, but he was spurred on by the cause.
He said: “It was a tough challenge, but enjoyed every minute of it, especially knowing at the back of my mind it was all for Owen.”
Owen added: “Fair play to Amir for climbing Snowdon last year and Ben Nevis this year.
“He is a great kid with a great future ahead of him.
“I am really thankful for all he does for me.”