‘Mountain man’ steps up to £1,000 challenge
AKIND-HEARTED youngster has raised more than £1,000 for the people of Ukraine after completing an epic month-long climbing challenge.
Determined eight-yearold Thomas Roderick has scaled the equivalent height of Mount Everest – more than 29,000ft – by climbing up and down the stairs at his home in Water, and then surmounting Pendle Hill for the final push.
The Water Primary School pupil, who loves cars, off-roading and music, will donate the sponsorship money to the Sunflower of Peace charity, who send medical supplies and equipment to support the doctors and paramedics on the front line.
His mum Ashleigh said they don’t let him watch the Ukrainian news as it is too upsetting – but Thomas came back from an assembly one day and said they need to do something to help the aid effort.
“He chose the charity,” said the 30-year-old neonatal nurse at Burnley General Hospital.
“He wanted to set a target of £500, which I said was too much and he should go for £250. He’s currently at £1,005. We are really proud of him.”
Thomas, whose 38-yearold dad Danny is an aeronautical engineer, has a brother, Ben, who helped accompany him on a few step climbs and a young baby sister, Rosie, who sat at the bottom of the stairs cheering him on.
To keep him going during the exertions he listened to his favourite artist Sam Fender.
He designed the gruelling challenge to last throughout the month of March, starting on the first and finishing on the 31st. In order to get in the required steps he had to go up and down the staircase 55 times per day – 1,430 stairs daily and more than 40,000 throughout the month.
He even celebrated his birthday during March but, due to being poorly around this time, agreed to finish his steps in style on the slopes of Pendle Hill.