Bristol dad Adam Alderman took on the tough challenge of carrying his blind son up the formidable 4,400ft Ben Nevis to raise funds to help Cameron avoid a world of ‘silent darkness’. The 10-year-old was born with Norrie disease, which left him blind and he is progressively losing his hearing.
Mum Carla said that if Cameron loses his hearing completely, he will be left in a dark and silent place. Cameron loves music, including drum and bass, as he can feel the vibrations.
The couple joined forces Norrie Disease Foundation to take on the challenge and launched a £15,000 fundraising campaign ‘The Race Against Silent Darkness’.
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The hike up the mountain took place on May 27 with Adam carrying their son. Carla said they had to call a halt at around three-quarters of the way. She said: “Cameron made it an amazing three quarters of the way up Ben Nevis. But we had to make the heart-breaking decision for him not to continue as he was extremely tired and the weather conditions at the peak were not the best. He really enjoyed being carried and the sensory experience of being on the mountain.
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“Adam did such an incredible job of carrying him the majority of the way, which was an absolutely mammoth task as the terrain was incredibly difficult and steep,” she added.
Carla continued with the rest of the team to the summit where she placed a Cameron knitted doll on the trig point to represent the journey. The campaign on JustGiving.com raised over £12,000 of the £15,000 goal.
The couple are in a race against time to try and save their son’s hearing. Cameron has complex needs as he is autistic, non-verbal and needs 24/7 care.
Carla said hearing loss with Norrie disease usually happened in late teens or early 20s, but that Cameron’s hearing started to deteriorate very early. She added: “He responds so well to family voices, when we speak to him or sing, or make silly voices, he just smiles and beams. We’re hoping to find a cure to prevent the hearing loss that comes with this condition. It’s important for us to raise awareness of his condition,” she said.
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