A super fit seven-year-old has rewritten the record books after climbing the highest mountains in three different countries in under 24 hours.
Steven Brown, of West End, Oswaldtwistle , scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon with his mum Caroline to complete the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Derian House children’s hospice.
The Year 3 pupil at Moor End Community Primary School is believed to be the youngest climber ever to achieve the feat.
After an exhausting schedule, the duo finished the challenge in 22 hours, 54 minutes, just over an hour inside the 24-hour limit.
A tall order for even experienced adult climbers, it takes in the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales - a total height of 3,408 metres.
Caroline and Steven set off at 5pm on Friday, May 27, to climb Ben Nevis, arriving back at the base in four hours and 45 minutes, then started Scafell Pike at around 3.50am the following day, climbing that in three hours, 45 minutes. They set off on the final peak, Snowdon, at 12.45pm on Saturday, May 28, which they completed in three hours, 19 minutes.
Caroline, who owns West End Fish and Chips on Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, said Steven, who has been doing major walks for most of his life, finished in fine fettle, even running down the highest mountain in Wales to put the seal on the challenge.
She said: “He slept the whole way between the peaks in the car, and ran back down Snowdon to make it under 23 hours.
“He wasn’t moaning or tired, he was just great.
“Steven started walking with my grandad and me, coming up and around the reservoirs. He was three when he did his first, five-mile walk, he just loves it.”
Caroline, 30, and Steven stopped at each summit to pose for pictures, and were accompanied by their 16-week-old spaniel Rosie on the climb up Scafell Pike.
The pair completed the challenge to raise funds for Derian House, a cause chosen by Steven himself. They have so far raised more than £560.
Caroline added: “He wanted to do it for a children’s charity, and somewhere local so he could go down and see what they do.
“Until now the youngest to climb the three peaks was eight years and three months, so Steven is now the youngest to do it. We hope to raise around £2,500 by the time all the sponsorship comes in, and I am so proud of him.”
Caroline and Steven go walking together most weekends with their two dogs, sometimes accompanied by Steven’s dad Nicholas and his four-year-old sister Jessica, For their next challenge, they plan to climb the Yorkshire three peaks next year.
