Dad to walk Three Peaks while carrying paraplegic son

A dad plans to complete the Three Peaks Challenge while carrying his paraplegic son in his wheelchair.

Pete Haslam, alongside 15 friends and family, will push and carry 11-year-old Ted along on the 23-mile trek across three mountains in England, Scotland and Wales.

The two-day challenge will raise money for children's charity Molly Ollys, which donated play equipment to Ted.

"We don't see the wheelchair as being an obstacle," said Haslam. "We want to let [Ted] do things that everyone else can do. He is looking forward to it, he also loves the camaraderie of all the guys."

Haslam, a keen mountaineer from Sutton Coldfield, said his son was diagnosed with an aggressive spinal tumour and left paralysed at the age of three. He described how Ted's legs "just stopped" working one day.

"His back was hurting but he was only young and couldn't articulate what the problem was," said Haslam. "Turns out the tumour was doubling in size every 24 hours."

During his treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital, Warwick-based Molly Ollys provided soft play equipment for Ted.

Established in 2011, it supports children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families, and also donates toys and books to children and hospitals throughout the UK.

"It's great that the charity is there to offer that [support] because we were too busy day-to-day thinking about treatment and the odd bits of respite that we could get," said Haslam.

Haslam has since been involved in several fundraising events for charities and also climbed Ben Nevis with Ted last year.

During the challenge on 26 and 27 June, teams will carry and push Ted in his wheelchair, ascending a total of more than 10,000m (32,800ft).

Scaling Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis is expected to take up to 30 hours to complete.

"This challenge is about more than mountains. It's about showing what's possible. It's about pushing limits, inspiring others, and making a difference," Haslam said, who added that his son was stoic about his condition.

"All the way through his life he's not really been a whinger, he just gets on with it."