Boy with brain condition in Snowdon charity climb
James said he wanted to give something back to help other children
- Published
A seven-year-old boy who has a brain condition will be climbing Snowdon for charity.
James, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, was diagnosed with numerous cavernomas – a cluster of abnormal blood vessels - on the brain at 10 months old.
The symptoms include seizures, balance issues and headaches and he has to have yearly MRI scans to monitor the condition.
In December, charity Make-A-Wish granted James his wish to go to Lapland in Finland, and now the youngster is hoping to give something back.
The family have set up a Just Giving fundraising page, which has so far collected about £600 for the charity, which James said he was “really, really happy” about.
He said he was looking forward to the climb, adding: “Make-A-Wish gave me a lovely holiday so I thought I could give them some money back.”
James was diagnosed with numerous cavernomas when he was 10 months old
When James was diagnosed at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, his mum Zoe quit her job as an electrician to care for him full time.
She said he initially had to undergo steroid injections to treat the cavernomas, of which there are now eight, but no longer needed that treatment.
An operation could be performed but it was decided it was too risky as the cavernomas were so deeply embedded in his brain.
Zoe said despite the symptoms, her son was still able to attend regular school and even take up mountain biking.
“When he has a headache, he’ll just say ‘oh my silly head is playing up again’. That’s how he handles it – he never gets himself down,” she said.
“He manages it so well. He doesn’t let anything stop him and he never wants to upset anyone.”
James and his family went on a trip to Lapland in December
She said James, who loves Christmas, was so pleased with his trip to Lapland that he immediately decided he wanted to raise money for Make-A-Wish to help them support other children.
“I’m over the moon but that’s just James all over. He’s such a kind boy,” she said.
The idea of climbing Wales' tallest mountain came as a result of James’s love of nature, with Sir David Attenborough named as one of his idols.
The pair will be climbing the mountain with James’s dad Jake and five-year-old sister Ella.
They are hoping to undertake the challenge on a date in April, subject to weather forecasts.
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