A mum from Leytonstone went the extra mile for Haven House Children’s Hospice by climbing the highest mountain in Britain as a way of saying thank you for supporting her son.
Mel Rinaldi scaled Ben Nevis, which stands at 1,345 metres tall in the Scottish Highlands on Sunday 12 August with her best friend Lisa Farrelly and raised more than £1,000 for Haven House.
It took the two friends five hours to reach the top of the mountain where they proudly posed for a photograph with a Haven House banner.
The hospice supports Mel’s son, Kristian, who has Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy where seizures can be non-stop. Kristian requires round-the-clock care and has no concept of safety. His only way of communicating is to cry, laugh or smile.
Speaking of her epic challenge, Mel said: “It was an amazing experience. The climb was really tough, and we were both exhausted by the end of the day, but we supported each other and were determined to get to the top.
“It was a proud moment holding our Haven House banner on the summit, I’m so glad we had the opportunity to take on this challenge and thank Haven House for all they do in supporting families like mine.”
