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Miracle boy Tom at peak of his powers



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Published Date: 26 August 2008
UNSTOPPABLE Tom Fryers has walked his way into the record books as one of the youngest people to climb all 214 of the Lake District's highest peaks - aged just six.
The miracle boy - who nearly died at birth - has just completed his final 'Wainwright' after a total of 480 miles and more than 150,000 ft of ascent in 62 days on the fells, starting when he was just three-and-a-half.

He reached the summit of Wansfell near Ambleside to complete the epic, the day after a 15-mile walk which included the two highest peaks in England, Scafell and Scafell Pike.

Tom said: "I have loved climbing mountains ever since I climbed my first Wainwrights. I like going down the mountains the most - but I also like being at the top."

Dad Paul, aged 40, of Bower Hill, Oxspring, Penistone, said his son simply doesn't know the meaning of the word 'stop'.

He added: "We've just had two weeks in the Lakes and I had to call a rest day - for my sake.

"He's very motivated - it's not me dragging him up there - and he's incredibly fit. What's also amazed me is how he coped in winter in terrible conditions.

"He's taken completing the Wainwrights in his stride. I've tried to make him realise he has done something extraordinary but as far he was concerned he was just going walking."

Paul said when Tom was born he was 'virtually dead' and spent a week in intensive care. His elder sister Catherine was born prematurely in 2000 and died when she was only two days old.

He added: "It's a miracle he survived, and even then I didn't expect him to be fully healthy. But he couldn't be more alive."

In February father and son realised they had done 40 Wainwrights and decided to do the rest for two charities - Sheffield Hospital's Charitable Trust and Community Action Nepal.

The pair climbed Wansfell with mum Helen and Tom's brother James, four, who has also climbed some Wainwrights.

Paul said: "Tom says he wants to climb them all again with his brother.

"I'm disappointed it's come to an end but now we've got to think about something we can do as a family."

The Wainwrights are a list of the highest Lakeland peaks, drawn up by famous guidebook author Alfred Wainwright.

Log on to www.justgiving.com/tomfryers to donate to Tom's fundraising efforts online.



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The full article contains 461 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 25 August 2008 11:14 AM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
 

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