Reaching the summit of Mauao for Skyla Rose Keating

Kelly Thomson, Keith Hatwell, Jamie Hatwell, Stacey Carey and son Max are climbing Mauao in honour of Skyla Rose Keating. Photo / Supplied

Skyla Rose Keating never got to climb Mauao before she died but now the 7-year-old is being carried to the summit in her family's hearts.

Skyla was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma - a rare brain tumour - just before her 5th birthday in August 2015. Sadly, she died on October 29, 2017.

In her honour, Skyla's family is making continuous climbs up the Mount with her smiling face printed on their T-shirts as part of the Mount Everest Challenge.

The challenge encourages people to climb Mauao 38 times in 50 days to raise funds for Tauranga Riding for the Disabled - but the family plans to keep climbing and raise more.

Skyla's granddad Keith Hatwell has already reached the summit 132 times as of Thursday and hoped to reach his target of 266.

"Skyla was 7, and seven times 38 is 266, so I am going to climb 266 times," he said.
"Skyla was one never to give up. She faced every challenge."

Hatwell has climbed as many as 10 times in one day and said Skyla was with him every step.

"That is what is keeping me going. I can hear her telling me, 'Don't give up Poppa, just one more," he said.

Skyla's aunty Stacey Carey has also climbed Mauao 38 times in 48 hours in honour of her late niece - but she plans to reach 50 climbs in 50 days.

"I always wanted to be able to take her [Skyla] up after she was diagnosed but we never got around to it," Carey said. "She was just amazing. She was a real fighter."

Skyla's father Jamie Hatwell - Carey's brother - was also taking up the challenge.

On April 5 to 7, Hatwell plans to climb 38 times in 48 hours with his niece Kelly Thomson in the name of charity.

"Skyla loved her horses and this is our way of giving back to Tauranga Riding for the Disabled, which gave so much to our Skyla," he said.

The family will base themselves at the campsite at the base of Mauao during the 48 hours while Hatwell and his niece make their continuous climbs.

Anyone is welcome to join in and there will be a sausage sizzle to help raise more funds for charity.

To donate, visit the Givealittle fundraising page.

THE CHALLENGE:
What: The More FM Mount Everest Challenge 2019
Climb the Mount 38 times in 50 days and help raise money for Tauranga Riding for the Disabled
When: Now until April 13

FACTBOX:
WHAT IS DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA - OR DIPG?
- DIPG is a type of high-grade brain tumour.
- DIPGs originate in an area of the brain, and more specifically the brainstem, called the pons. The pons is an area deep within the lower part of the brain which is responsible for a number of critical bodily functions, such as breathing, sleeping and blood pressure.
Source: www.thebraintumourcharity.org