Fulwood school boy with Cystic Fibrosis achieves dream with Machu Picchu climb

A school boy has become one of the youngest people with cystic fibrosis to climb Machu Picchu.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Apr 2018, 10:39 BST
Updated 19th Apr 2018, 14:51 BST
David Capitan, of Fulwood, climbed Machu Pichu with his step dad Sam Worden, 30, grandad David Finch, 58, and family friend Andy Bell, 61, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.David Capitan, of Fulwood, climbed Machu Pichu with his step dad Sam Worden, 30, grandad David Finch, 58, and family friend Andy Bell, 61, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
David Capitan, of Fulwood, climbed Machu Pichu with his step dad Sam Worden, 30, grandad David Finch, 58, and family friend Andy Bell, 61, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Read a previous story /fulwood-boy-set-to-climb-machu-picchu-for-cystic-fibrosis-trust-1-9051226

Eleven-year-old David Capitan, of Fulwood, made the steep four-day climb, despite being informed he had picked up a bacterial infection and had a reduced lung capacity to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

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He was joined by his step dad Sam Worden, 30, grandad Dave Finch, 58, and family friend Andy Bell, 61. David, a pupil at Hutton Grammar School, was inspired to do the trek after his dad, Carlos Capitan, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with his grandad in 2015, raising £3,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

David Capitan, of Fulwood, at the top of Machu Pichu with his grandad David Finch, 58, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.David Capitan, of Fulwood, at the top of Machu Pichu with his grandad David Finch, 58, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
David Capitan, of Fulwood, at the top of Machu Pichu with his grandad David Finch, 58, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

He said: “I wanted to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as it has given me a lot of support and I don’t want other people getting worse.“I was quite worried about my reduced lung capacity but I was fine.“The second day was the hardest as we were going to the top. I was about 10m from the top and I felt like I couldn’t be bothered as my ankles were aching and I was tired. But I carried on and there was amazing views. Then we had to climb down 3,000 steps, which were really steep.“I feel really proud that I have done this. My grandad thinks I may be the youngest person with cystic fibrosis to climb Machu Picchu.”

His grandad, Dave, said: “Before we left, we visited the Cystic Fibrosis clinic and doctors confirmed he had picked up an infection and had reduced lung function.“But David coped with the trek very well - there were times when we could not keep up with him. We had a great time.“I am the proudest grandfather in the world. His attitude towards it was fantastic. He had a smile on his face all the way. It was not an easy trek and was quite dangerous. “It was quite emotional when we got to the top.“I think David could be the youngest person with cystic fibrosis to do the Inca Trail. A man called Nick Talbot, from County Durham, was the first person with cystic fibrosis to climb Everest in 2016. By sheer coincidence, his best friend’s wife was at the airport and seeing our T-shirts, spoke to us and Nick has even made a donation.”

The team of four have raised almost £3,000, which will be matched by David’s dad, Carlos.To support David visit http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davidcapitan

Related topics:FulwoodAndy Bell