This Saturday (May 17) 9-year-old Ava is going to attempt to climb the highest peak in South Wales twice and in just five hours! Ava, from Newport, has been inspired by her dad Andrew, who is a member of a fundraising team from HMP Cardiff, aka The Rusty Screws.

Since 2021 Andrew and his fellow Rusty Screws have already taken on the seven highest peaks in the UK in just 36 hours twice, and have raised more than £32,000 for Tŷ Hafan in the process. And they’re about to do it again, starting at Ben Nevis on Thursday the 5th of June at 5pm and finishing at Pen-y-Fan in the early hours of Saturday 7th June.

So wanting to do her bit to support, Ava has decided to tackle Pen-y-Fan herself.

“After doing lots of training walks with my Daddy and his friends for their seven peaks challenge, I asked my Daddy if there was anything that I could do to also help raise money for Tŷ Hafan,” she said.

“I then suggested, what about walking up Pen-y-Fan twice in one day? And to make things even harder, try to do it in under 5 hours!!! It’s going to be hard but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. Thank you to all the kind people who are able to donate to this fantastic cause.”

Says dad Andrew, “We started in 2021 with three peaks in 36 hours, then we did five peaks in 2022, and then tackled seven peaks in 2023 and 2024 and will be doing seven peaks again next month. So altogether this year will be The Rusty Screws’ fifth challenge for Tŷ Hafan.

“Nigel started all this in 2021 with Mike and Pete and I joined the team last year. They were my inspiration to help.

“It’s an honour to be able to help support such a fantastic cause which makes a difference to so many people’s lives.”

Sorrel Mayo, Senior Relationship Fundraiser for Tŷ Hafan, said: “I am in awe of Nigel, Pete, Andy and all The Rusty Screws for what they are doing for us – and now Ava is following in her dad’s footsteps. Go, Ava! Superstar!

“When a child’s life will be short Tŷ Hafan will walk alongside that family every step of the way, through life, death and beyond. It’s thanks to Ava, The Rusty Screws, and all our amazing fundraisers, that we’re able to do this.”

Click here to find out more and to support Ava and The Rusty Screws.