AN 11-year-old boy climbed to the top of Scafell Pike in a bid to raise much needed funds for a specially adapted bus for his brother’s school.
Tom Hattersley got his map and compass out then headed to the peak of England’s highest mountain with his dad Mark in aid of Hazel Oak School.
His brother Joe has speech and language difficulties and attends the Shirley school.
The Hazeloak Road school wants a new minibus with a wheelchair lift to accommodate the increasing number of children at the school, so they can continue to go on trips and learn about the world they live in.
Katie, Tom’s mum, who is a member of Hazel Oak Parent Support Group said the group was told the bus would cost around £30,000.
The group began fundraising with Father’s Day sales, ice lolly stalls at sports day and stalls at the summer fair.
However Tom soon realised it would take a long time to raise the funds, so he decided to set himself the challenge of climbing Scafell Pike in the Lake District while he was on holiday with his family over the summer.
Tom is a member of the Scouts and has done a lot of walking with the group and family so felt it was a realistic target.
The family, including Tom’s brother Joe and sister Charlotte, started the walk together and as they got around the half way point Tom and his dad continued to the peak while Katie and his siblings climbed down.
Katie said she expected the pair to be a couple of hours and was surprised to see them about half an hour after she had got to the bottom of the mountain.
He wanted to raise £500 and so far he has raised £700.
Katie said: “I am so proud that Tom thought of doing this challenge and that he actually followed through and achieved it.
“It’s amazing to see that he is thoughtful enough to want to help his brother in this way.”
For more or to donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tom-hattersley-11
