Stourbridge girl Emma set for 2930ft mountain climb in memory of her ‘Nanna’
A six-year-old girl from the Black Country will be climbing a mountain nearly 945 times the size of her, to raise money for the Mary Stevens Hospice in memory of her late grandmother.
Fuelled by ‘Haribo and the promise of an ice cream at the end’, courageous Emma, from Stourbridge, will be climbing to the summit of the Cadair Idris in Wales - which stands at a whopping 2930ft tall at its highest point - to pay tribute to her 'Nanna', Brenda Cadwallader.
Brenda was a hospice volunteer for more than 15 years before she passed away there after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer.
Starting in summer 2016, Emma has been training for nearly 12 months to prepare for her climb.
The mountain has been a regular visiting spot for the family for many generations, and Emma's mother could think of no more fitting tribute to Brenda.
Lisa Cadwallader said: “The Cadair Idris is a beautiful mountain and is very close to my family's heart. I climbed it many times as a child with my parents and brother, and it felt a fitting tribute to mom to climb it again as a family with Emma.
“Emma and her Nanna were inseparable. When diagnosed, mom set herself the target of seeing Emma start school, and of reaching her six birthday.
“She did see her start school, on September 7, but a few weeks later, on September 22 was admitted to the hospice as a patient.
“She lost her fight during the early hours of September 25 - the day after Emma's six birthday. She achieved every goal she set.
“It would be wonderful to think that Emma can manage to raise enough money to keep a patient cared for in the hospice for 24 hours, as a way of our family saying ‘thank you’ for all the love and care that the hospice provides.”
So far Emma has raised more than £550 for the cause, but aims to raise £695, the cost of a 24-hour stay in the Hospice In-Patient Unit.
Dan Malin, Mary Stevens Hospice, said: “Don't let her adorable appearance fool you, our kid is tough as nails and she is going to smash this challenge.
“Her Nanna was part of the furniture at the hospice and losing her after such an inspirational battle was very difficult for the team here, and Lisa is a fantastic supporter of ours as well.
“Clearly, doing remarkable things to help people in need is going to run in the family.
“We've got absolutely no doubt that this incredible little girl will make mincemeat of her mountain, and we're just so proud of her. We know her Nanna would be too!”
If you would like to sponsor Emma, please visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Emmamac6
