Skipton boy Luke Mortimer to climb Embsay Crag for charity

Luke Mortimer is determined to climb Embsay Crag, Skipton - dubbed his ‘Everest’ - so he can “return the favour” to charities which have helped him.

The kind-hearted youngster was just seven when he contracted the severe bacterial infections meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.

Although he survived the deadly illness, he lost all his limbs and needed 23 painful surgeries over a 10-week period to replace missing skin and address his wounds.

Luke had to have his limbs amputated (Image: SWNS)

Luke’s family later relocated to a bungalow in Embsay, which was transformed for him by the volunteer group Band of Builders in September.

But ever since the move in 2019, the plucky lad has had ambitions to summit the nearby crag, which he can see from the garden of his rural home.

On Saturday (November 4) he’ll attempt the gruelling trek in aid of amputee charity LimbPower and BBC’s Children in Need - after appearing on its show last year.

Luke said: “I just thought it would be nice to return the favour to Children in Need, which helped me, and LimbPower.

“When we moved here, we were going down the road to Embsay, and I just saw the crag, and I said ‘mum, dad, one day can we climb it?'

“It’s been a few years now, but I feel very determined about getting to the top and back down. I think the worst thing that can happen is probably rain.

“And anybody can join! I’d be open to anyone coming. I’m feeling pretty confident about it.”

Luke’s dad Adam, 49, admitted the steep two-mile journey to the top of the summit and back would be a “tough challenge” for his intrepid son.

Luke and his dad, Adam (Image: SWNS)

But he said Luke was intent on reaching the peak under his own steam and would be wearing a set of shortened knee-length prosthetics - called ‘stubbies’ - for the climb.

Adam said: “For Luke, this is a huge thing. It’s above a normal walk for even me, so for Luke, it’s quite a tough challenge. It is kind of his 'Everest'.

"If you just did it purely on his stride, it’s half of anybody else’s. So it’s almost like if I’m walking a mile, he’s walking two.

“But Luke wants to do it under his own steam. He is fairly determined to get up there and get back on his own.

“It will take as long as it takes. We don’t have a set time because I don’t want to put him under any pressure. It’s just going to be at Luke’s pace, up and back down.”

Luke, previously a keen rugby player for Skipton RFC, was first struck down with meningococcal meningitis on December 13, 2019.

He was transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where doctors found life-threatening septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning, had developed in his body.

Writing at the time of the incident John Firth, a family friend who set up a donation page for him, said his rugby-mad family’s life had been “turned upside down”.

"Luke’s young life was saved, however, the disease has taken its toll on his little body," he said.

"He has proven he is a fighter, however, his life and the life of his mum, dad and his big brother will never be the same."

Over the next few years, Luke endured endless sessions of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, while always wearing his trademark beaming smile.

He later learned to walk - and run - on prosthetic legs.

After receiving £15,000 worth of donations from an army of well-wishers, he also got his first robotic ‘hero’ arm so he could do more for himself.

The bungalow where Luke now lives was previously adapted for a man who was paralysed from the waist down.

And volunteer organisation Band of Builders later helped his dad Adam fit it with a remarkable range of adaptions, which were unveiled earlier this year.

Luke’s challenge will begin from a car park at Embsay Reservoir at 10am on Saturday, where cakes and refreshments will be sold for charity prior to the ascent.

And Adam welcomed anyone who wanted to take on the challenge with Luke to come along.

Visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/adam-mortimer-4 to donate.