Samuel’s big-hearted climb for Nepal

Most kids wouldn’t be too keen on spending their winter school holidays trekking up hills.

But 12-year-old Samuel Muir hasn’t been thinking about himself as he’s hit Queenstown trails this month.

The St Joseph’s School pupil’s attempting to walk the height of Mount Everest – 8848 metres – during July to raise money for people in Nepal.

“I just saw the need, I just want to help,” he says.

Part of the Himalayan Trust’s Summit Challenge, this year’s coincides with Sir Edmund Hillary’s 100th birthday.

It’s not the first time Samuel’s put his body on the line for a good cause.

In April last year the keen cyclist tackled the Otago Central Rail Trail to raise money for Camp Quality, which provides a getaway for children diagnosed with cancer.

As part of this new challenge, last Friday he tackled the Tiki Trail to the top of Skyline’s gondola, while district councillor Craig ‘Ferg’ Ferguson also tagged along.

“He’s a young man doing great things, and I like to support young people in our community,” Ferg says.

Samuel’s hoping to raise at least $1500 – as of last Friday he’d just cracked $1000.

Donations can be made at https://give.everydayhero.com/nz/everest-summit

Written by DAISY HUDSON for Mountain Scene, The Voice of Queenstown