Young Northam fundraiser Jack will take on Mt Snowdon for his next charity challenge

Fresh from enjoying an Ant and Dec ‘takeaway getaway’ holiday, a young fundraiser from Northam has set his sights on his next challenge – the mighty Mount Snowdon.

Jack Hopkins, aged nine, will be climbing the Welsh mountain – the second highest in the UK – this July to raise more money for the Tony Hudgell Foundation.

Above: Jack Hopkins from Northam received a free takeaway getaway holiday for his fundraising exploits.

The Appledore Primary School pupil has become well known for his fundraising exploits and has already raised more than £15,000 for the foundation, which works to help children affected by physical, emotional, or psychological abuse.

The Snowdon challenge will see Jack tackle the 1,085 metre (3,559 feet) peak, joined by mum Katie Roberts, her parents and the niece of mountaineer Sir Chris Bonnington.

Tony himself, also aged nine, is a remarkable boy who lost his legs at an early age and was fitted with prosthetics – inspired by Captain Tom Moore he has completed numerous challenges and raised almost £2million.

Jack’s own fundraising efforts began in lockdown aged just five-years-old, when he told mum Katie Roberts he wanted to raise money for NHS staff, embarking on a series of sponsored walks during the allowed daily exercise.

Since then he has run 100 kilometres in 100 days, walked a mini Ten Tors on Dartmoor and walked a mountain with Tony in the Lake District, as well as becoming an ambassador for the Tony Hudgell Foundation, received the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award during a visit to 10 Downing Street.

Above: Jack with his new Berghaus kit donated by the outdoor brand.

Jack and his family have just returned from a free TUI takeaway getaway holiday in Pathos, Cyprus, presented to them when they were part of the audience on the ITV show Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Each week the audience is made up of deserving individuals who receive a free holiday.

Mum Katie said the all-inclusive holiday accompanied by her parents had been a lovely break and an opportunity for quality family time.

She explained how the trip had been a complete surprise for Jack: “Every year he asks me if we can go on the show and I say no because audience members have to be over 18. 

“This time I just said I had managed to get tickets and he said he thought children were not allowed in the audience, but accepted it and he did not twig until they said everyone here is a fundraiser.

“His words were: ‘that was the best night ever!’ He has always loved Ant and Dec and watches everything they are on, so to see them up close was just a dream come true.”

Above: Jack Hopkins with his mum Katie and her parents enjoying their TUI takeaway getaway holiday in Cyprus.

The Snowdon challenge will be taking place around mid-July and Katie said they would be waiting for a good weather window to reach the summit.

Jack is already busy training with walking the coast path and has been supplied with new kit by outdoor clothing brand Berghaus.

Katie added: “This one is definitely going to be a step up. He’s done the 100k in 100 days at one kilometre a day and the mini Ten Tors, but he will push his boundaries with this one.”

If you would like to sponsor Jack in his new challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/page/jacksnowdon24.