Tobías has set himself an incredible challenge for the upcoming bank holiday weekend: to climb the three peaks, beginning with Ben Nevis on Friday 3rd April.

Tobías’s love of the mountains began early. He climbed Snowdon at age five, and last year (aged six) he climbed both Snowdon and Scafell Pike. Now, he is determined to take on all three of the peaks to raise funds for SpotlightUK, a charity that has become a lifeline for him and our family.

SpotlightUK has provided Tobías with activities that count towards his daily exercise but feel far more like fun than therapy: Ninja Warrior, swimming, paddle boarding, the inflatable lagoon, climbing, and more. We also book just for fun days out Chessington, 4 Kingdoms, laser tag, bowling. Michela has been wonderful in offering us free or affordable activities but has also been a real emotional support and literal shoulder to cry on during particularly trying times.

Tobías’s Medical Journey

* September 2021: March 2022: We first realised there was a problem with a continuous croup like cough, often coughing until vomiting and frequent fevers. Drs repeatedly told us it was “just a virus.”

* March 2022: An X‑ray showed infection.

* July 2022: After 10 months of no treatment, he was referred to a specialist and treated.

* April 2023: His condition worsened, leading to surgery in June.

During surgery, doctors discovered:

* Distal tracheomalacia – structural abnormality of his airway

* Bronchomalacia – congenital lack of cartilage support

* Biopsies showing Haemophilus influenzae - pneumonia

* August 2023: CT scan revealed a partially collapsed lung.

* The dominant condition is bronchiectasis - a condition where the airways of the lungs become widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus often causing a persistent cough and shortness of breath.

* September 2023: He underwent another operation and had a PICC line inserted, long flexible tube inserted in the upper arm and threaded to a central vein near the heart.

* December 2023: a paediatric respiratory medicine professor told us that there was no further curative treatment available. Tobías would have to learn to live with pneumonia, a partially collapsed lung, and several chronic airway conditions. His daily routine now includes a nebuliser, physiotherapy, and intense exercise to help manage his symptoms and keep his lungs working as well as possible.

Despite all of this, Tobías remains determined, active, and unbelievably resilient. He has regular hospital visits and a demanding daily schedule, yet he still pushes himself.

Why He’s Raising Money

SpotlightUK has and continues to support Tobías, they have helped him stay active, confident, and connected at a time when his world could easily have become very small. We want to give back so that other children facing their own battles can receive the same support.

Tobías’s Three Peaks challenge is his way of saying thank you and of proving to himself that his conditions do not define him