Page 16 - 366089 LP246226 In and Around Magazine 52pp A5 (September 2022)

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Merlin Rowell and mum, Hester Rowell, Bowfell, Lake District (Far Left) Merlin Rowell and mum Hester Rowell, Skiddaw, Lake District (Top Middle) Merlin Rowell, Helvellyn, Lake District (Middle Bottom)
Merlin Rowell, Cross Fell, North Pennines (Top Right)
Merlin Rowell, Great Gable, Lake District (Bottom Right)
Meet the 10-year-old who is climbing 10 peaks, in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice
A Yorkshire lad has set himself a huge challenge; to climb the 10 highest peaks in England, before his 11th birthday, to raise money for St Cuthbert’s Hospice.
Merlin Rowell, from Kirk Hammerton, set himself this challenge after his Grandma Kathleen was cared for at St Cuthbert’s Hospice last year. After talking to his Mam Hester and Dad Andrew, they came up with Merlin’s 10.
Merlin and his grandma
Merlin described his Grandma as “lots of fun”. He says they used to fish for tadpoles, make dinosaurs and
go on the best adventures, so he felt it was only right to go on an adventure of his own in her memory. He also pointed out that his grandma was really well looked after at St Cuthbert’s, and he knows that they need a lot of money to care for people the way that they do.
So far, Merlin and his parents have climbed five of the ten peaks they’re aiming to complete in their challenge. The team started out in March by climbing Helvellyn in the Lake District, then Cross Fell in April. May saw the family rise up two peaks; Skiddaw and Great Gable. In August, they conquered Bowfell.
Merlin’s birthday is in November, leaving the group with just two months to conquer five more peaks, including Scafell Pike and Great End. So far, the trio has raised £520, through donations from school friends and family.
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Parents are proud as punch
Of course, Merlin’s parents are extremely proud of him and what he’s trying to achieve. The pair pointed out that his grandma loved the outdoors, so Merlin’s efforts allowed the family the perfect opportunity to remember her by doing an activity she would have loved.
Speaking of St Cuthbert’s, Andrew said: “As a family, we feel so fortunate that mum was able to spend her last days at St Cuthbert’s. The care and kindness really helped us at a sad and difficult time.”
The staff at St Cuthbert’s are overwhelmed by Merlin’s support and generosity. Most of all, they
are blown away by how young Merlin is. In fact, Sarah Donkin, the Communications and Marketing Coordinator at the hospice says that she’s never heard of such an amazing challenge being completed by someone so young.
She went on to say: “Without incredible fundraisers such as Merlin, we wouldn’t be able to provide the level of compassionate care that we do for the many families who need us each year.”
You can donate to Merlin’s 10, via his JustGiving Page. When you donate, you will also receive updates from his mam, Hester, about how his fundraising is progressing: justgiving.com/fundraising/merlins10