Nine year olds mountain walk for charity (From News Shopper)

Nine year olds mountain walk for charity

5:27pm Thursday 17th November 2011 in Community

A nine year old girl has climbed Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales at 1085m (3560ft), to raise funds for her local hospice.

Chloe Fisher from Bedonwell Junior School in Belvedere walked the 6 ½ mile round trip along the Pyg track to raise £70 for Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice in Abbey Wood, South East London on August 15.

Proud dad, Andy, said: “I’d done the walk before but it was my wife, Lisa, who said she wanted to walk up Snowdon as a family. I mentioned this to Chloe and she said she wanted to walk for Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice.”

“I was nervous,” said Chloe. “At the top I broke down and cried with relief and I thought - this is for all the staff, patients, families and friends at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice.”

Chloe visited the hospice in 2008 as part of a Bedonwell Junior School year 2 choir visit and was touched by its work.

“It stayed with me, and that’s where I got the idea to raise funds,” said Chloe.

“I’m so proud of her,” said Dad, Andy. “Chloe designed the sponsorship form and then went about collecting sponsors. We supported her but Chloe did all the hard work.”

The Pyg track starts at 1,170ft above sea level and it took the family 6 hours 45 minutes to complete. The path was steep and rocky in places and involved an 800m ascent.

Sally Bateson, Director of Fundraising at the Hospice, said: “We need to raise over £3.5million every year from local people taking part in fundraising activities like this – Chloe is an inspiration. We’re delighted and very proud of what she has achieved.”

Chloe was accompanied on the walk by her brother Adam (14), Mum Lisa (42) and Dad Andy (40).

To find out more about Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice including details of how to support, visit www.communityhospice.org.uk