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Primary school staff have climbed the equivalent of the world’s tallest mountain between them to raise money for Year 2 pupil Dylan Williams, who has been diagnosed with Leukaemia.

In total, 12 members of staff at Ysgol Gymraeg Gilfach Fargod climbed Pen y Fan enough times to match the equivalent of Mount Everest, which stands at 8,848 metres tall.

To achieve this, staff had to climb Pen y Fan 20 times between them.

The idea came during a staff meeting after the school’s Parent Teacher Association had raised money for six-year-old Dylan’s family during the school’s Christmas fair.

So far, the sponsored climb has raised £2,000 and counting, with every penny raised going towards supporting Dylan’s family.

Headteacher Jamie Hallett and deputy headteacher Aled Hopton both climbed Pen y Fan four times each, setting out in the dark at 7am and finishing at 4.30pm as the sun began to set.

Fellow teachers Amy James, Emily Pash, Cariad Casey, Bethan Chard, Andrea Thompson, Mirain Sellick, Cai Ireland, Rhian Darch, Elenid Marsh and Claire Pugh also took part in the challenge.

Mr Hallett, who is also headteacher at Ysgol Bro Sannan in Aberbargoed, said he was “extremely proud” of his staff.

He continued: “Dylan is a very happy and popular member of our school family and as a group of staff we were determined to do something to support the family during this difficult time.
 
“I know that the family wholeheartedly appreciated our support and well wishes as Dylan continues to receive his treatment for Leukaemia”

Dylan’s parents said: “We would like to thank the school for their support. We really appreciate it.”