A little boy from Lancaster has done ‘summit’ amazing, as the six-year-old hiker has hit his fundraising peak in the challenge to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest.
Oscar Burrow, a hiking superstar, has reached his fundraising target of £29,000 for Derian House Children’s Hospice – and has now matched the pounds raised to the feet climbed in his epic challenge that involves scaling 12 of the UK’s tallest mountains.
Oscar’s whopping total means that Derian House can send 29 children with life-limiting illnesses on a free holiday with their families.
And helping to complete the goal, donations came flooding in on Monday April 17 after Oscar and dad Matt were interviewed by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast radio show.
Oscar said: “I wanted to be the youngest person to climb Mount Everest and I have climbed 10 out of 12 mountains.
“And now I have raised enough to send 29 families on holiday.
“The hardest thing about the challenge was climbing Cairn Gorm because the snow was so deep, but it didn’t stop me.
“When I get older, I want to climb the real Mount Everest!”
Matt, Oscar’s dad said: “Oscar did it! He loves danger and has so much positive energy and ambition – it’s amazing what a child’s dream can achieve.
“We’re speechless and couldn’t be prouder.
“Thank you to everyone that has supported us along Oscar’s journey – we have been overwhelmed by kindness.
“We’re going to continue to raise as much as we can as we complete the challenge for this wonderful charity.”
Oscar and his family have just two mountains to go and plan to finish on May 29, when they will summit Ben Nevis in Scotland – on the 70th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Karen Edwards, Chief Executive at Derian House, said: “How many six-year-olds could say that they have climbed the height of Mount Everest?
“Oscar is an incredible little boy who has truly gone to great heights for Derian House.
“Our holiday lodges are an incredible facility that enable our families to take a break, have fun, and make memories.
“It is only down to the generosity of our incredible supporters – like Oscar and his family – that we are able to do this and we’re so grateful.”
Derian House is able to offer 200 families a free week’s stay in their holiday lodges every year.
The hospice, based in Chorley, Lancashire, cares for more than 400 babies, children, young people and their families from across the North West and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It will cost £6 million to run services at Derian House in 2023, and so the charity relies on the generosity of its supporters for 70p in every £1.
To find out more about the hospice go to: www.derianhouse.co.uk
To sponsor Oscar visit: Oscar Burrow is fundraising for Derian House Children's Hospice (justgiving.com)
Follow Oscar’s journey on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088803157394
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel