Caeden Thomson, a seven-year-old boy with cerebral palsy in Corby, Northamptonshire has raised more than £15,000 for disability equality charity Scope by trekking 4,413-feet up to the summit of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain.
Caeden was born 12 weeks premature and the doctor then told his parents that he would never be able to walk. Since then, the strong boy has had to undergo gruelling physiotherapy, as well as hydrotherapy and speech and language therapy. He has worked hard to exceed all expectations.
This actually happens. This 7-year-old boy thas trekked 1,345m (4,413ft) up the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis.
According to his JustGiving page, Caeden is ‘a very happy boy, who tries his very best not to let his disability stop him from keeping up with his 2 older siblings and his friends’.
The page continues:
“Although at birth we were told Caeden would not be able to sit, walk or talk, he has pushed himself to be the fantastic character he is today.
He walks, sometimes using a walking frame / stick, he plays as any other seven years old would do, and has an amazing personality. He told us that he is so lucky for all the things he has had in his life, that he wants to give back”.
Caeden reportedly underwent training for his climb, with his physiotherapists reportedly ‘happily encouraging such a task’.
At the time of this post, Caeden has raised well over £15,000 through Just Giving that went beyond his original target of £8,000.
Caden began climbing Ben Nevis at 9 AM Saturday, August 29. He reached the top at 5:30 PM. The group then made their way to the bottom of the mountain again at 10.30 PM.
According to BBC News, Caeden’s mother Lisa Thomson has dubbed her son as being ‘an absolute legend’, and said the challenge had been ‘much harder than any of us really expected’.
She continued:
“From three-quarters up the pathway is just massive piles of boulders and 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 really difficult, so he did have to walk down a lot of it too. Bless him. We are all super proud of him”.
Speaking on This Morning after Caeden’s climb, Lisa said:
“There are no words better than being proud. Proud isn’t good enough, this boy needs an award”.
The money that Caeden has raised through his mountain climbing will reportedly go towards helping others to access the range of opportunities and treatments that Caeden has benefited from.
A big mission for a boy of such a young age. The boy doesn’t let his odds stop him from doing meaningful things. And this, of course, has inspired millions of people.
You can donate to Caeden’s JustGiving page for yourself here.