Two young brothers from Bamber Bridge scaled England’s third highest mountain and raised thousands for charity in the process.
Ruadhan and Niall Long, aged seven and four respectively, completed seven of the Lake District ‘Wainwrights’ in six days and raised £1,317.84 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation in memory of their grandad, Paul Bent.
The boys, both pupils at St Mary’s and St Benedict’s RC Primary School, Bamber Bridge, were holidaying with parents Eoin and Stacy Long, who set them the challenge which included the Lake District’s third highest mountain, Helvellyn, at 950m (3,116ft).
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Paul was Stacy’s stepdad and lived in Leyland with her mum Bernadette. After retiring from Tesco, he worked as a volunteer for children’s charity Barnardo’s at its shops in Leyland and Eccleston. Paul sadly passed away of oesophageal cancer.
Stacy, who works for Boots the Chemist at its dispensary support pharmacy at Walton Summit, said: “This November will be three years since we lost grandad Paul. We all miss him so much. Ruadhan remembers playing football with him but Niall had only just turned two. Doing the challenges are a way of making new memories around grandad and so keeping the memory of him alive for the boys.
“Ruadhan and Niall are both very active. Climbing mountains is something we enjoy as a family. The boys were babies when we started them off. We are working our way through all 214 Wainwights.”
As well as Helvellyn, Ruadhan and Niall, who play football for Walton North End and cricket at Preston Cricket Club and who go to Johnson’s Muay Thai Gym in Preston and regularly take part in Avenham Park’s park run, also scaled Cat Bells, Barrow, Latrigg Fell, Lord’s Seat, Barf and Walla Crag on their holiday.
They raised their Rosemere Cancer Foundation donation through online sponsorship via the Just Giving page.
Stacy added: “The donation also includes funds we raised from when we climbed Mount Snowdon in 2023. Niall was in a carrier but Ruadhan made it up. Rosemere Cancer Foundation is a charity very close to our family’s hearts because of the care and treatment which grandad Paul received at Rosemere Cancer Centre.”
Yvonne Stott, community and events fundraiser for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “Congratulations to Ruadhan, Niall, Stacy and Eoin on their incredible effort. It’s an amazing accomplishment for anyone let alone two little boys.”
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