Lancaster’s pint-sized hiking superstar Oscar Burrow has achieved his fundraising peak in the challenge to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest for Derian House Children’s Hospice.
The intrepid six-year-old has raised £29,000 – 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.
Donations came flooding in after Oscar and dad Matt were interviewed by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast radio show this morning (Monday, 17 April), smashing his fundraising goal.
Oscar’s whopping total means that Derian House is able to send 29 children with life-limiting illnesses on a free holiday with their families.
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!”
Dad Matt 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 29 May, 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. Find out more: 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
