Seren Price, a six-year-old from Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, has made history by becoming the youngest girl to ascend Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. Her climb not only marks a remarkable achievement but also serves as a heartfelt tribute to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which saved her life as a baby.
Seren and her father, Glyn Price, plan to continue their fundraising efforts by tackling Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. Seren recalled her experience, saying, “When I was a baby, I had a big lump on my neck, and they helped me.”
The father-daughter duo flew to Morocco in mid-August, traveling from Marrakesh to a village at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. Under the guidance of a local expert, they undertook an eight-hour trek in sweltering temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius to reach Mount Toubkal’s base camp. After a night’s rest, they set out early the next morning and reached the summit, which Glyn described as a challenging hike along narrow paths with slippery scree.
“The heat was the biggest challenge,” he said, but upon reaching the top, they were greeted by fellow climbers who had followed Seren’s story online, applauding her achievement.
While Seren playfully claimed she trained for “a week,” Glyn clarified that their preparation spanned about a year, including nighttime hikes up Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. “We were able to replicate some of the terrain,” he explained, even if the weather was not the same.
Seren’s fundraising efforts are particularly close to her heart, as she owes her life to the medical team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which operated on her for a haemangioma that impacted her airways when she was born prematurely. Last year, she became the youngest person to complete the UK’s Three Peaks Challenge in under 48 hours.
Looking ahead, Seren is eager to climb Mont Blanc next year, especially excited about “seeing the snow.” Glyn, an avid mountaineer and teacher, emphasizes that he cannot impose his passion for climbing on his children. “I have a son who isn’t interested, but Seren loves it,” he said.
When asked what she enjoys most about climbing, Seren replied, “I like spending time with my dad—and seeing the nice things when I’m at the top of the mountain.”
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