A BOY is embarking on his next adventure to climb Mount Everest while raising funds for a children's charity.

In April 2024 eight-year-old Frankie McMillan, from near Wasdale, will climb to Everest Base Camp in his latest mountaineering fundraiser for Make-A-Wish.

However, this will not be Frankie's first summit, as last September, at the age of seven, he became the youngest Briton ever to reach the top of Mount Olympus, involving a three-day climb to 9,573 feet (2,918 metres) – and he raised more than £3,000 for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.

Just two months after his birthday, Frankie will hike into the heart of the Himalayas on an 11-day trek to reach Everest Base Camp at an ear-popping 17,598 feet (5,364 metres). 

He has been climbing mountains since he was three, has bagged all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District, and conquered Olympus even in significant heat.

This time he will be heading into changeable temperatures with warm days but extremely cold nights, and the trek includes time to acclimatise to temperature and altitude to keep him safe and well. He will be climbing with his mother Basia, a highly experienced climber, mountain leader, and mountain rescue volunteer.

His mother said: "I am very excited because his dream is coming true. And he is at the age when he will remember this forever and understand things around him.

"I am also excited because we will get to do it together and spend time bonding even more. No one will take those days away from us. But I would lie if I said I wasn’t nervous. At the end of the day it is a very big challenge and even with the best will in the world and the most positive attitude things can go wrong."

Frankie said: "Climbing Everest is my biggest dream, and the whole of the wall next to my bed is a picture of it, but my mum says I’m too small to go to the very top, so Base Camp will have to do for now."

As he makes his wish come true, Frankie wants to help other children make their wishes come true despite suffering critical conditions.

He is raising money for Make-A-Wish, a foundation that brings moments of joy and precious memories to children whose lives are limited or even threatened by serious illness. He plans to raise £5,364 – a pound for every metre of height to reach Base Camp.

To help Frankie raise funds for the Make-A-Wish, visit the Just Giving Here page here.