A Cumbrian teen has climbed Mount Toubkal in memory of a close family friend.
Jayden Carruthers, 16, of Carlisle, successfully summited the mountain – which stands at 4,167 metres and is over four times the height of Scafell Pike – last weekend in Morocco.
It was an extra special summit for the teen, as it was done in memory of his family’s close friend Selina Scott, who died in 2020 after battling cancer for a year.
Jayden first took on the trek with his friend Jack in April, but weather conditions stopped the pair from reaching the summit.
The pair raised a whopping £2,400 for North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity to support the cancer care unit at Carlisle Infirmary.
But after the fundraiser finished, Jayden remained determined to reach the top of the mountain, as he wanted to place a special stone engraved with Selina’s name there in her memory.
So the youngster’s mum and grandma flew out to Marrakesh with him last week to support him while he took on the challenge.
Jayden took on the climb alone with a guide and group and made a few older friends along the way.
He said: “I just knew I had to complete Mount Toubkal. I tried in April but due to the weather, I was unable to summit. But the amount of money I raised was unreal and I couldn’t not do it.
“I was extremely lucky my mam took me back to try again and this time I reached the top in very different weather conditions and I left my stone for Selina at the top of the mountain.
“I know she will be extremely proud of me for not giving up and trying again.”
Selina passed away in 2020 after battling cancer for a year.
Jayden was 10 years old when she died and he said she was like an aunty to him. He added that she has a special place in his heart.
Gemma, Jayden’s mum, said his family are incredibly proud of his achievement.
She added: “In April he was really disappointed that he wasn’t able to summit because of the weather and because of the amount of money he raised, he felt he needed to reach the top and try again.
“So straight away as soon as we came back we booked again and we said come on, we’ll go back and you can try again. We just said we’ll keep going until you’ve done it!
“Luckily he did do it this time, it took him two days to do it and he had no signal. I was just watching my phone waiting and as soon as he got a little bit of signal and sent the picture through of him at the top, I was just crying my eyes out.
“I was on the phone to everyone telling them ‘he’s done it! He’s done it!’ He was over the moon because even though we knew he hadn’t, he was worried he’d let people down not getting to the top.
“The first time he went he left the stone half way up and promised her he’d be back. So I got him another stone and he left it at the top this time.
“We’re absolutely beyond proud of him and Selina’s daughter Chloe was really proud of him going back and doing it again.”
