Last year, a Co Down schoolboy conquered the biggest mountain in Northern Ireland to support an animal rescue centre, a charity organisation he holds dear to his heart.
This year, Elijah Hewitt from Dollingstown planned to go even bigger by climbing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK.
At just seven-years-old, this was set to be a massive challenge for Elijah, who attends King's Park Primary School in Lurgan but one he has now successfully conquered with the help of his very proud parents.
Read more: NI schoolboy aims to conquer Ben Nevis as he treks for charity
Elijah was inspired to raise more money after he adopted a puppy, Scamper, from Almost Home Animal Rescue (NI) in Moira last October.
He fell in love with Scamper instantly and the two have become firm friends.
However, Elijah recognised that the centre needed lots of food, bedding and medicine to look after the 300+ animals still there, and decided he wanted to try and raise some money to support them.
Elijah's mum Jo told Belfast Live: "He raised quite a bit of money last year for Almost Home, a charity he cares very much about. Both me and my husband, Simon, volunteer there a little, and last October we adopted our dog Scamper from it.
"As it was approaching Christmas, Elijah set to work making decorations. Using reclaimed wood, he worked at painting and selling over 80 Christmas decorations including foxes, bears and pinwheels. He sold them all and raised a massive £500 for Almost Home."
Almost Home is an established animal welfare charity and recently made headlines when they took in a number of puppies seized at Belfast Port in December.
Jo added: "Elijah wanted to ‘go big’ this year to raise more money for the same charity by attempting to walk Ben Nevis. He walked through snow, and in rain and wind with such determination.
"He was confident from the beginning that he would hit the top and he did. He didn’t stop talking the whole way there and back, and with a 7.30am start and 5.30pm finish that was quite a feat!"
Standing at 1,345 metres tall, Ben Nevis is Scotland's highest and most popular mountain.
"Elijah had hoped to make £672.50 - 50p for each metre he would be climbing but in the end he actually managed to raise £1/metre climbed with a total so far of over £1,300," Jo explained.
"The money raised will go directly to Almost Home. The centre was started by Karen Matthews and is run with a big team of volunteers.
"It is 100% funded from public donations, and so work like Elijah’s will make a big difference. Thank you to everyone for your support."
The big climb came just a few months after the talented youngster published his first novel on Amazon. He started writing his debut book, The Clue-jitsu Masters: and the Missing Map, last October and published it on Amazon just before Christmas.
You can still support Elijah following his adventure by donating to the fundraising appeal here.
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