Big Challenge For A Little Man

  

Charity champion Aidan, nine, of Plains Farm, has already been involved in a string of fund-raising events, including completing the Race for Grace three times and a sponsored wall climb.

He has organised a charity football match which will be held at Grindon Boys Club this weekend.
But his biggest challenge yet will be the gruelling trek up Ben Nevis, near Fort William, Scotland, on June 28, when he will be among up to 200 Grace House fund-raisers.

Aidan said: "I love helping Grace House. This is something different and I'm really looking forward to it."
A pupil at Barnes Junior School, Aidan has begun daily walks with his dog Meg to train for his Ben Nevis climb.

His mum Karen, 46, is regional fund-raiser for the Grace House Appeal, which will build a children's hospice in Sunderland.
She said: "We're immensely proud of Aidan. He's always coming up with ideas for raising money for Grace House.
"He didn't hesitate in saying he wanted to do the Ben Nevis climb.
"Everything he does, he wants to raise money to build Grace House. He knows it's somewhere that children who are very poorly will go."

Karen and the rest of Aidan's family – including dad Alex, 49, a joiner, sister Nichola, 28, and brother Jamie, 20, – are proud of his efforts.

Aidan – who turns 10 on June 11 – has organised a fund-raising football match, tombola and raffle at Grindon Boys' Club, Grindon Lane, between 1pm and 3pm on Saturday.
He said: "I have always wanted to organise a charity football match for Grace House and I have invited my school friends to take part and donate money to the appeal.
"Sunderland AFC have donated a signed football so I am hoping to raise more money with a raffle and a tombola."

Karen says that it's not too late for people to sign up to take part in the Ben Nevis walk.
She said: "Families across the North East are climbing their own mountains every day. When you look at it from that point of view then Ben Nevis doesn't really seem that high.
"You don't have to be superfit. There are still 10 weeks before the challenge, which is enough time to start training.
"Apart from the achievement of climbing Britain's highest mountain, people can also be proud of themselves for raising money to build Grace House children's hospice."
Anyone who wants to sponsor Aidan can visit website: www.justgiving.com/aidanmaclennan or contact the Grace House Appeal office, tel: 516 6302

Fund-raisers can still sign up for the Ben Nevis walk in aid of the Grace House Appeal on June 28. The walk, led by a fully-qualified mountain leader, is estimated to take between seven and nine hours to complete.

Participants must pay £20 to register and are asked to raise at least £100 in sponsorship. Walkers must be aged 10 or over and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian aged over 18.
The charity has organised a bus for people who need transport, at a cost of £20 per person.