When he was just 15 months old, little Albie-Junior Thomas went through something that many would find hard to imagine. He was born with a rare condition that meant his left foot was deformed and his leg was shorter than the right. Doctors gave his parents two options – a lengthy procedure which would extend his leg, or amputation.
They chose the latter, something they said left them feeling “so guilty” and worried about what Albie-Junior’s future might look like.
However, dad Daniel and mum Rachel needn’t have worried. Their little boy has not let anything stop him. He’s been charging around on his prosthetic since he was two, with dreams of one day competing in the Paralympics.
Albie-Junior, now nine, hopes to become the youngest amputee to complete the Three Peaks challenge – climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales – in under 24 hours.
If Albie-Junior completes the challenge, accompanied by his dad Daniel, 40, he will be the youngest amputee ever to do so.
Daniel, from Holywell, Flintshire, said: “It’s like he is meant to walk mountains. He’s fitter and stronger than other boys his age. He shows them what to do.
“He just loves it and is so excited. We are going to be getting on the mountains again soon every week to train.” Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter
The intense challenge covers a total walking distance of approximately 23 miles and a total ascent of 3,064 metres. The three mountains Albie-Junior must climb in the challenge are Ben Nevis in Scotland, the highest peak in the British Isles at 1,345m, then Scafell Pike, the highest in England at 978m, and Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa – the highest in Wales at 1,085m which is often the final peak of the challenge.
The youngster has already climbed Yr Wyddfa
Albie-Junior was born on December 3, 2016, with fibula hemimelia, meaning his left foot was deformed and his left leg was 5cm shorter than his right. His parents knew that there was something not quite right as it was picked up on the scan – but the doctors weren’t able to tell them what until Albie-Junior was born.
His parents were given the option of either amputating or extending his leg by pinning. As the latter would involve a lengthy procedure, the parents agreed to have his left foot amputated when he was 15 months old.
When making up his mind about what to do, Daniel met a man at the gym who was an amputee and went on to become a strongman. This made the decision to have Albie-Junior’s foot amputated “a lot easier” and “straightforward” for the dad.
But he said that he had “never felt” the way he felt after Albie-Junior was put in his arms after the amputation surgery. He said: “It crushed me inside.
“I felt so guilty, you’re supposed to protect your child, and I felt like I was the one who’d taken his foot off. But immediately afterwards I thought, I have no right to feel pain, this is his thing.
“So I got it out of my system and I made a promise to him right then and there that I was going to get him to the Paralympics one day.”
Albie-Junior then picked up walking as an amputee really quickly, and was striding around on his prosthetic leg by the time he was two. He and his dad have since ventured up many mountains together – with Albie-Junior even becoming the youngest amputee to scale Yr Wyddfa back in 2021, aged just four.
Running coach Daniel said they plan to complete their latest adventure alongside their friend Matt Newell on August 18, providing conditions are safe.
Daniel said: “We have had a taster of all the mountains before which is very helpful, so we will know what to expect. He is very fit and healthy and is still only nine!
“We’ve got a driver who is going to take us to each mountain after we descend. I reckon he will be able to do it – but it’s all about having a go.
“Even though us three are doing the walk, we wouldn’t be able to do it without his mum Rachel – who is the main organiser!”
Albie-Junior is also using the challenge to raise money for Holywell Town Football Club. You can follow their journey here.
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