Cerebral palsy will not stop Corby schoolboy Caeden, 7, from reaching his mountain dream

A Corby boy living with cerebral palsy whose fundraising mountain climb was disrupted by the coronavirus lockdown is back on track for his charity climb.

Caeden Thomson was due to climb Britain's highest mountain Ben Nevis to help others with his condition but the trek had to be postponed due to pandemic restrictions.

Next month, the Beanfield Primary School pupil will tackle the 1,345m peak in the Scottish Highlands with his mum and dad Lisa and Alan, sister Khya, ten, and eight-year-old brother Ashton.

Mum Lisa, 34, said: "He's really proud to be doing this challenge and he's looking forward to it. He wants to empower others and prove that he is able."

Caeden will return to Kettering General Hospital at the end of this month for his intramuscular botox treatments that help his leg muscles and improve his walking ability - the effects which last for six to nine months.

Lisa said: "It's been really difficult for him without the treatment. He's been dragging his heels and not being at school meant he hadn't been moving about as much.

"We've been doing his daily physio but the lockdown has had a massive impact on him. It's been heartbreaking."

Born 12 weeks premature, Caeden, who sometimes uses a stick to walk has been building up his stamina with a rigorous countryside walk fitness regime with his family and his dog Tesha, tackling the steep paths in Fineshade Woods.

Lisa said: "He really wants to see some snow at the top of the mountain so that's an incentive. It's going to take us six to eight hours up and down but we'll stop for a picnic.

"We're thinking of something he can hold when he's standing at the top to take a cool photo."

The family have been promoting Caeden's walk which they have nicknamed 'The Nev' on his YouTube channel with the latest video shoot at Rockingham Castle.

Money raised by Caeden's charity trek will be used to provide a tablet device to help medics during the botox treatment, as well as to help St Mary's Hospital, Kettering's Sudborough House, and charity Scope.

Since moving to Corby two years ago, the family have felt really at home.

Lisa added: "We're calling on the people of Corby to help Caeden raise as much money as possible and reach his goal."

More than £1,900 has already been donated online towards the £8,000 fundraising target.To donate to Caeden's fundraising click here.

To get more information on Caeden’s training, physio and treatments leading up to the big day and updates on the walk day itself, you can visit Caeden’s YouTube channel here.Message from the editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

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