Schoolgirl, 6, raises incredible £5,000 by climbing Snowdon in memory of Nan

A six-year-old schoolgirl has raised an incredible £5,100 for Dougie Mac after climbing Mount Snowdon in memory of her Nan.

Little Frankie Griffin, from Stoke-on-Trent, decided to take on the mammoth challenge for us after we cared for her Nan, Karen Griffin, who passed away in July last year following a brave battle with cancer.

Frankie wanted to raise money after telling her dad Nick that she needed to help ‘poorly people like Nannie’ – Nick’s Mum.

Nick said: “Frankie loves walking and has already climbed and walked the local hills and points of interest in the Peak District, so we decided to take on Snowdon as Frankie knew that Wales was once of her Nannie’s favourite places and also one of the last places her Nannie visited.”

Frankie and Nick, along with relatives and staff from Griffins of Stone, a butcher’s shop which is owned by Nick, completed the gruelling climb to the summit in five-and-a-half hours on July 10 – a year to the day since Karen died.

Nick said: “Mum was diagnosed with small cell cancer in the lungs, and some cancer on her collarbone, in October 2023. After two rounds of chemotherapy and immune therapy, we were told in March 2024 the treatment wasn’t working and so heartbreakingly, it was stopped.

“As a family we told to make Mum as comfortable as possible, and it was a matter of time. Dougie Mac arranged home visits and the nurses that came out to her and the advice they offered was superb – no question was too silly and they always seemed to say the right thing.

“Since Mum’s passing on July 10 2024, I decided to reach out and talk to the counsellors at Dougie Mac and what a difference that has made to me. I cannot say thank you enough.”

During their walk up Snowdon, Frankie and the team – who left at 6am – endured temperatures of 32C.

Nick said: “Frankie was amazing and lead the team of eight. It was hard going but it was a real team effort and so many memories were made. We also took Mum with us and laid a photo under some rocks with a view that was worth the walk. I couldn’t be prouder of my six-year-old little girl!

“Thank you to everyone who donated to such a great cause – friends, family and customers at the shop.”

Frankie, who received a medal and certificate from Dougie Mac for her achievements, said: “It was good to walk all the way to the top but it was hard coming back down.”