Albie sets his sights on new record-breaking mountain goal
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD from North Wales is hoping to become the youngest amputee to scale Ben Nevis.
Albie-junior Thomas had his left foot amputated when he was 15 months old after he was born with fibula hemimelia.
But it hasn’t stopped Albie who has been running around on his prosthetic since he was two, and dreams of one day competing in the Paralympics.
He scaled Snowdon last November becoming the youngest amputee to complete the climb – and is now set to take on Ben Nevis with dad Daniel Thomas, 37.
Little Albie has been in training with his dad for the hike, which they hope to complete in October, and does laps around the garden. Proud dad-of-five Daniel, 37, from Holywell, Flintshire, said: “Albie will be the youngest amputee to climb Ben Nevis.
“He said Snowdon was easy so he can’t wait to do Ben Nevis. He just wants to climb bigger and bigger all the time so we thought we’ll do the tallest mountain in the UK. We do lots of training, he comes to the gym and does laps round the garden. He is a very active child, he goes to swimming and kickboxing and is really strong for his age.
“We are hoping to do it by the end of October we are just waiting on a new running blade coming for Albie. Hopefully we can do it in four hours, Albie just ploughs on ahead when we are out climbing, he is a very determined little boy.
“He is already talking about Everest Base Camp. I made a promise to my son when he came out of theatre after the operation that I would help get him to the Paralympics. I just thought why can’t my son go further, nothing can stop him. As long as Albie wants to go to the Paralympics, I am going to help him do it.”
Daniel gave up his joinery company and decided to train to become a personal trainer.
He enrolled in college courses and turned his joinery business into a gym and fitness centre, all to help his son with his sporting goals.
And Daniel said Albie picked up walking as an amputee really quickly, and was striding around on his prosthetic leg by the time he was two.
After only taking up running in 2018, last year Daniel ran seven marathons in seven days, and Albie ran the first mile of each one with him.
Daniel said: “Running’s his sport. He loves it. Me and him have that passion. He’ll go in the back garden and train on his own.”
Star of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Paddy Doherty, 63, is taking on the climb with the pair. They are raising money for Cancer Research UK and the One step Holywell centre for children which Daniel is creating to give support to kids.
Albie is being spurred on by siblings Maxwell, 16, Grace, 12, Blake, 11, and Sienna, seven. Daniel said: “Albie is starting to understand the fundraising and that the money is going to help people. We are going to be raising money for two great causes. One is for cancer research in memory of Paddy’s brother Martin Mcdonagh who sadly lost his life to cancer. The other is for the One step Holywell centre for children. This will be a non profit centre where children can feel save and be given mentoring, support and a lot more to encourage to be the best they can be.”