STANDING TALL
ALFIE, 9, SCALES BEN NEVIS FOR CHARITY
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy has conquered Ben Nevis after being inspired by a Scots soldier.
Alfie McAnespie scaled Britain’s highest mountain in seven hours alongside Coronation Street star Antony Cotton – raising more than £3700 for a veterans’ charity.
The pint-sized lad decided to take on the challenge after meeting the Daily Record’s Our Heroes winner Stu Pearson, who lost his leg in a blast in Afghanistan.
Alfie’s mum Anja said yesterday: “I’m proud of him regardless of what he does, as he’s passionate and he always wants to make people happy.
“I was bursting with pride when we reached the top. We are all still aching badly but it was so worth it.”
Alfie met Stu at an event at Westminster last year.
The war hero, from East
Kilbride,was injured in an explosion in a minefield in Afghanistan. The incident was immortalised in the 2014 hit film Kajaki.
Alfie’s dad Lee, who is originally from Stonehaven in Kincardineshire, is a captain in the Army.
The family now live in Colchester.
Lee was away with work and couldn’t join his son for the climb at the weekend.
Anja said: “Alfie had a cry, as he wished his daddy could be there with him during such an achievement. Antony was brilliant at that moment as he comforted Alfie.
“Antony told Alfie how proud he was of him as he would never had done this if it wasn’t for him.”
Anja added: “Alfie is already planning the next climb.”
Her son first hit the headlines when he walked a mile for Help for Heroes unaided at just 16 months.
Antony has been an ambassador for the charity since one of his close friends was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was supported by their recovery centre in Catterick, Yorkshire.
Alfie contacted the actor, who is best known for playing Sean Tully in Corrie, on social media to ask if he would take on the Ben Nevis challenge with him. The soap star immediately signed up. ● To make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/h4haaa