A TEENAGER who trekked to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro has raised more than £15,000 for charity.

Oliver Constantine-Pana-gopoulos, 13, a pupil at Cothill House School, near Abingdon, decided to scale the 19,000ft peak in Africa in aid of Tom’s World Down’s Syndrome children’s charity.

His brother Thomas has Down’s syndrome and the Constantine-Panagopoulos family set up the charity to help children affected by the condition.

Oliver had to get special permission to head for the summit of Africa’s highest mountain from the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities, because of his age.

He was accompanied by his father Pierce and a guide who monitored his progress and physical condition during the climb.

The group they tackled the mountain with took seven days to complete the challenge, reaching the summit on June 18.Temperatures fell as low as -8C at times.

Oliver said: “It was quite a tough challenge for me. I suffered from poor circulation and frozen toes.

“I had three pairs of socks on and several thermal layers, including two fleeces and two summit jackets. I felt like the Michelin man.”

He said it was sheer determination that got him to the top. He added: “I never gave up and kept the group’s spirits going.”

Oliver said he was planning to future endurance expeditions to raise money for the charity.

He said: “I would like to ride a bicycle to Greece, climb Macchu Picchu in south America and cross the Great Wall of China.

“These will be to raise awareness and help children with Down’s Syndrome to pursue their sporting careers and learn new skills for a better chance of integrating in society.”

For more information about the charity and to make a donation, see the webpage justgiving.com/tomsworld hcover@oxfordmail.co.uk