CLIMBING a mountain is an impressive feat - even more so when you’re normally wheelchair-bound.

Charlie Dawson from Moredon reached the summit of Pen Y Fan over the weekend with support from a team of friends, loved ones, and experienced climbers.

His dad Kevin Dawson, sister Chaye and friends of the family Darren Lee, Steve Docherty, Mark Neilson, Kyle Neilson, Stuart Lloyd, Catherine Kirk, Karen Sheeran, Paul Sheeran and Tracy McParland joined him on the epic trek.

The climb was the culmination of more than a year of fundraising for a new wheelchair that 22-year-old Charlie desperately needs as he’s outgrown the one he’s had since he was a teen.

He’d originally planned to tackle Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons by the end of 2017 but the plans had to be postponed due to problems with ligaments on his hip.

His team battled torrential rain and strong gales of wind to reach the peak in just under four hours.

Charlie said: "It was fun, I loved every minute of it and I can't wait to do another one.

"I loved reaching the peak with my dad."

His mum Jackie Dawson said: “He's amazing, I'm so happy he made it and so proud of him.

"I knew he would do it but I didn't think he'd do it so quickly, he lead the group and was ahead of everyone.

""Everybody was cheering him, their support was incredible, we couldn't have done this without them.

"I think this will be one of our best memories.

"I found it really difficult so how he managed to do it is beyond me, they thought it would take him a lot longer.

Charlie is one of just five people in the world with the muscular condition paroxysmal non-kinesigenic choreoathetosis, which causes painful involuntary full-body spasms, and he also suffers from dystonia and ataxia, which affects his speech, balance and co-ordination.

The wheelchair he covets would be bigger and lighter than his current one.

It also has off-road capabilities which would stop him being restricted to the pavement when he goes outside, and powered steering that would ease the heavy strain on his shoulders caused by pushing the chair manually.

So far,Charlie is just over half-way to his £10,500 target. To help boost the total over the finish line, Kevin, Chaye and Darren are doing a sponsored skydive in September.

Charlie is eager to join them on the parachute jump but will have to check with his doctor first. To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jackie-dawson-2