Many people make the gruelling ascent up Snowdon each year. More recently, you may have heard of one man’s attempt to push a Brussell sprout up Snowdon with his nose. This story is for an equally good cause and is bound to warm even the coldest of hearts.
Since suffering with a spinal tumour, Jacob Rafferty, an 11 year old from Kent, has been confined to a wheelchair. Not wanting to let it stop him, he and 20 officers from the Metropolitan Police set about making the journey to the iconic mountain’s peak.
Jacob has been in the wheelchair since he was 8 years old and was paralysed after the operation to fix his spinal cord went wrong.
“If Jacob had not been operated on three years ago the spinal tumour would have grown and grown and Jacob would have died,” said Mr Rafferty.
“We didn’t know it would all end in paralysis but we knew there was a risk.”
The brave climb was all in aid of the excellent Spinal Research charity and Team Jacob have made headlines all over the country for their endeavours. The original target of money to be raised was originally just £500 but since the support has been pouring in, the actual tally sits at a stunning £2752.35 at the time of writing. That’s 550% of the original target!
Jacob’s parents hope that he will one day be able to walk again and were full of praise for the efforts of the police on the 2nd of August.
“The police force have been fantastic since it all happened,” said dad, Adrian. “The police have been understanding throughout over hospital appointments and all the challenges we have had to face with Jacob becoming disabled.”
Jacob was accompanied by his family on the day also and it’s a great effort such a young boy who was given a special wheelchair just to complete the trek. You can still donate to Jacob’s cause via his JustGiving page.
Photo courtesy of Twitter user @PCHEDD