A selfless ten-year-old quad amputee feels 'on top of the world' after raising over £12,000 for other disabled kids - by scaling a 656ft mountain.<br /><br />Luke Mortimer felt “very proud” to summit Embsay Crag, in North Yorks., dubbed his ‘Everest’, so he could “return the favour” to charities that had helped him.<br /><br />The kind-hearted youngster was just seven years old when he contracted the severe bacterial infections meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.<br /><br />Although he survived the deadly illnesses, he lost all his limbs and needed 23 painful surgeries over a ten-week period to replace missing skin and address his wounds.<br /><br />Luke’s family later relocated to a bungalow in Embsay, near Skipton, which volunteer group Band of Builders helped his dad, Adam Mortimer, adapt for him in September.<br /><br />But ever since the move in 2019, the plucky lad has had ambitions to summit the nearby crag, which he can see from the garden of his rural home.<br /><br />Following his successful summit on Saturday (Nov 4), Luke said he was amazed to have raised so much money - after initially hoping to make just £500.<br /><br />He said: “It was tough, but I felt on top of the world. <br /><br />“I’m really happy, and as well as that, I’m also pretty shocked. I thought we’d just get to £500, next minute we’re at over £11,000.<br /><br />“At the top, I told everybody ‘I want you to shout, ‘We’ve cracked the crag’, and we all shouted it.<br /><br />“It was tiring and tough, but when I got to the top I was very proud of myself. Everybody was really kind for coming out to support me."<br /><br />Luke's dad Adam, 49, said 40 hikers had journeyed from all over the UK to climb the peak with Luke and hailed his son’s efforts as a “massive achievement” <br /><br />He was also surprised at how much money they’d raised for charities LimbPower and the BBC’s Children in Need - after Luke appeared on its show last year.<br /><br />Adam said: “We had some people who had seen the challenge on the news and had come from Sheffield and Chesterfield.<br /><br />“We did it in a little over two hours, which was pretty good going. It was a massive achievement to get up. Luke was super proud. It was brilliant.<br /><br />“It was great to get over £10,000. A big thank you to all the people who came out, who supported us and donated to us. It really meant a lot.”<br /><br />Luke, previously a keen rugby player for Skipton RFC in North Yorks., was first struck down with meningococcal meningitis on December 13, 2019.<br /><br />And he was transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where doctors found life-threatening septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning, had developed in his body.<br /><br />Writing at the time of the incident John Firth, a family friend who set up a donation page for him, said his rugby-mad family’s life had been “turned upside down”.<br /><br />He said: “Luke was a budding 7-year-old rugby player, a bundle of joy who even at a young age had embraced life and every day was a happy day. <br /><br />"His whole family was part of the rugby community, with his dad coaching many age-grade youngsters and his mum, running a children’s rugby kit recycling stall, so that the young boys and girls, always had the right gear to play and train in. <br /><br />"However, whilst the rest of us were buying and wrapping presents ready for Christmas, the family's life was turned upside down. <br /><br />"Luke’s young life was saved, however, the disease has taken its toll on his little body.<br /><br /> "He has proven he is a fighter, however, his life and the life of his mum, dad and his big brother will never be the same."<br /><br />Over the next few years, Luke endured endless sessions of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, while always wearing his trademark beaming smile.<br /><br />He later learned to walk - and run - on prosthetic legs.<br /><br />And after receiving £15,000 worth of donations from an army of well-wishers, he also got his first robotic ‘hero’ arm so he could do more for himself. <br /><br />The Bungalow where Luke now lives with his brother Harry Mortimer, 14, and mum Christine Mortimer was previously changed for a man who was paralysed.<br /><br />And volunteer organisation Band of Builders later helped his dad Adam fit it with a remarkable range of new adaptions, which were unveiled on September 3 this year.<br /><br />Adam previously described Luke’s two-mile challenge, which began from Embsay Reservoir at 10am on Saturday morning, as his ‘Everest’.<br /><br />He'd said: “For Luke, this is a huge thing. It’s above a normal walk for even me, so for Luke, it’s quite a tough challenge. It is kind of his 'Everest'. <br /><br />"If you just did it purely on his stride, it’s half of anybody else’s. So it’s almost like if I’m walking a mile, he’s walking two."<br /><br />Visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/adam-mortimer-4 to donate to Luke's appeal.
