Boy told he would never walk scales Ben Nevis
● Seven-year-old raises £7,000 for charity and NHS with 4,400ft climb
A seven-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has climbed Britain’s tallest mountain, raising more than £8,000 in the process.
Ca eden Thomson, from Corby, Northamptonshire, trekked the 4,413 ft as cent to the top of Ben Nevis in the Highland son Saturday to raise money for his local NHS trust and disability equality charity Scope.
Caeden was born 12 weeks premature and has since undergone intense physiotherapy, but told his moth - er, Lisa, that he wanted to be able to give something back because “he was so lucky for all the things he has had in his life”.
Early in his life, Caeden’s parents were told he would never walk, sit or talk.
Setting out to raise £8,000, a crowdfunding page now puts the total at more than £8,400
as result of the 13-hour climb.
“Caeden is an absolute legend,” his mother said.
“Ca eden’ s life began with huge struggle, stress and a feeling of the unknown and he was very lucky to have had all
the help and support he got,” she said .“He is a very happy boy who tries his very best not to let his disability stop him from keeping up with his two older siblings and his friends.”
The family were due to climbing the Scottish mountain in May but it had to be postponed due to coronavirus.
Mrs Thomson said they b egan climbing at 9am and reached the top at 5.30 pm, before making their way to the bottom again at 10.30pm.
She added :“It was such a massive challenge and much, much harder than any of us expected.
“There were many hard times along the way – from three-quarters of the way up the pathway is just massive boulder sand very hard to climb, and even at the top we didn’t think he would make it down.
“There were danger areas where carrying was very difficult, so Ca eden did have to walk down a lot of it too.
“The temperature dropped hugely and many climbers said they were turning back. But we made it!”
The group set off on the adventure at 9am, returning at 10.30pm after reaching the top at 5.30pm.
Ca eden himself said :“My body hurts a lot but I’m OK. It was really, really hard.
“I felt sick and exhausted at the top, and I felt exhausted but happy at the bottom!”
Ms Thomson added :“We are all super-proud of him, he deserves a medal.
“Last night no-one could move or celebrate, so to day we are resting up and will celebrate tonight.
“We all love Caeden so much and can’t believe his passion for getting to the top.”