Barnstaple boy, 10, taking on Snowdon climb for Royal Marine dad

A Barnstaple boy is to hike up Mount Snowdon this May to show how proud he is of his Royal Marine dad and to raise money for Help for Heroes.

Finnley Hunter, who will be 11 when the hike takes place on May 9, will be accompanied by mum Rachel as they take part in the charity’s Heroes Hike to trek the 3,500 feet up Yr Wyddfa, or Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales.

For Finn, it’s an opportunity to show his father – who is often away for months at a time – how proud he is of his dad. He will be undertaking a trek of 20 kilometres, to a summit 1,085m above sea level and will be walking for somewhere between six and nine hours.

He said: “My dad is a Royal Marine and he helps protect people, even when it means being away from our family for months. I’m really proud of him because he’s brave and he works really hard at his job: protecting people.

“I want to hike up Snowdon to raise money for Help for Heroes so that soldiers who get hurt can get the help they need. It might be a hard climb for me, but Royal Marines do really tough things all the time, so I want to try my best too.”

READ NEXT: Appeal launched to bring sailing back to the waters of North Devon reservoir

Rachel added: “As a proud military family, we’re climbing, not just for the view at the top, but to give back to the brave men and women who serve – and have served – our country and the families who stand beside them every day.

“And for Finn, it’s about more than reaching the summit, it’s about learning resilience – something that is challenged daily as a military child – compassion and the importance of supporting others.

“We hope to come away from the event having raised awareness for the sacrifices made by our armed forces, and stronger and proud to have made a difference together. As a military family, service and sacrifice aren’t just words to us, they’re part of our everyday life.

“We know first-hand the strength it takes to serve, and the resilience required from the families who stand behind them. And we also know the sacrifices don’t stop when the uniform comes off; many veterans continue to face physical and mental battles long after their service ends.

“By taking on this challenge together, we’re proud to give back to a charity that supports our armed forces community when they need it most.”

Finn and Rachel hope people will be willing to make a donation and sponsor his Snowdon challenge and perhaps join one of the series of seven hiking events created this year for Help for Heroes.

The first is at Scafell Pike on April 25, followed by Snowdon on May 9, before the Three Peaks Challenge is completed with a visit to Ben Nevis on June 6 – the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

The focus shifts on July 26, when the hike is around London, taking in 30 landmark military sights, before walkers leave the city behind for the coast, with a trek of nearly 17 miles along the stunning Jurassic Coast, in Dorset.

The series concludes in September with two hikes - on Dartmoor on September 12 and the Lincolnshire Wolds on September 26. Each guided hike costs £49 per person, with a suggested fundraising target of £200.

READ NEXT: 'For my dad and me' - Devon man to carry father’s ashes on 1,014-mile mission

Siobhan Warren, Help for Heroes’ event fundraising manager, said: “This series of seven one-day hikes is more than just a fundraiser for our amazing veterans. They’re an opportunity to reconnect with nature, meet new friends, and feel a real sense of personal achievement.

“Finn and Rachel’s motivation is personal to them; some people walk because they have family members who have been helped by the Charity; while others may be motivated by more prosaic reasons, such as just taking exercise in fresh air, or are simply hikers by nature.”

If you would like to sponsor Finn, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/finn-snowdon-for-heroes

If you want to find out more about the Heroes Hikes events or sign up, visit https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/give-support/fundraising-events/heroes-hikes