20 YEARS OF PRIDE OF BRITAIN
TUCKED inside a box that is hidden on the top of the Old Man of Hoy – the iconic rock stack off the Orkney coastline – is a metal card. Engraved on it are the words: “I did this for my mum and Climbers Against Cancer.”
The heartbreaking note was left by Edwards Mills. In May last year, at the age of eight, he became the youngest ever person to scale the 449ft column.
Edward was inspired to take on the charity challenge for his mum,
Bekki, whose breast cancer had spread and become terminal. The family had enjoyed holidays in Orkney, exploring the beaches, swimming and sightseeing at the Old Man of Hoy.
When keen climber Edward heard that a 10-year-old boy had become the youngest person to scale it, he decided to see if he could beat the record – raising money for Climbers Against Cancer – as a tribute to his mum. Edward said: “I wish there was a cure for cancer, some medicine to make people better, so I wanted to raise money for a charity.”
And, on June 8, 2018, Bekki watched with pride from a ferry as Edward completed the feat in four-and-a-half hours, raising £35,000.
Tragically, she passed away three months later. Edward received the Young Fundraiser of the Year Award at the 2018’s Pride of Britain Awards.
A year on and Edward is still a keen climber. Dad Nathan says: “He’s still raising money for charity. He and brother George are doing well.
“We’ve been to Thailand, a holiday Bekki helped us plan. She’s still very much part of our lives.”