Eight-year-old mountaineer Frankie McMillan is gearing up to scale Mount Everest Base Camp alongside his mother, Basia, to raise money for children's charity Make-A-Wish UK.
No stranger to mountain peaks, Frankie has been conquering them with his mum since he was a toddler. Last year, he became the youngest Briton to reach the summit of Mount Olympus in Greece. With over 500 mountains and hills already under his belt, Frankie has proven his adventurous spirit.
This Everest Base Camp trek is just a stepping stone for Frankie's ultimate goal: reaching the summit of Everest itself. "I would like to beat the record, to be the youngest person in the world to ever go to the top of Everest. It’s always been my dream and we want to just at least get to base camp. I know it’s not the top, but one day we’ll be there.”
His mother, Basia, acknowledges the challenge but emphasises their careful planning. “I am a little bit nervous, of course, because of the altitude, but something that is quite important to understand is that it is not a decision we took out of the blue.”
Safety remains paramount for the mother-son duo. “We just have to give it our best. We don’t give up but if we are not feeling well we’ve pinky promised to each other that we’re going to turn back because safety comes first,” Basia affirms.
The determined duo has set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for Make-A-Wish UK. Frankie explains, “My wish was to climb Mount Everest and Make-A-Wish UK is all about wishes and dreams, so why not, with my dream, I can make other people’s dreams happen.”
Frankie's Everest Base Camp challenge is more than just a climb; it's a testament to his courage, determination, and desire to help others. This young mountaineer is an inspiration, proving that age is no barrier to achieving great things.
(Source: Daily Mail UK)
