A brave boy whose inspirational fundraising won the hearts of many people in the Isle of Man earlier this year has been congratulated by the Mayor of Douglas.

Eight-year-old Dylan Walton has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a type of brain injury that affects premature infants.

Nevertheless, the Ballacottier School student walked to the summit of Snaefell in July and in September set out from the NSC in September on a marathon walk, all in aid of Hospice Isle of Man and Rebecca House.

To date Dylan has raised £28,188 and walked 19 miles.

His efforts were recognised in the 2020 Isle of Man Care awards, when he was presented with a certificate ’for outstanding community spirit and raising money for local charities’.

He also received a standing ovation at Isle of Man Newspapers’ Community Kindness event at the Gaiety Theatre in September and has been presented with a Little Piece of Hope Heroes of Mann award, while he is also young ambassador for Hospice Isle of Man and Rebecca House.

Dylan went to Douglas town hall with his parents, Lisa and Jack Walton and one-year-old sister Flo, where the family met the Mayor and Mayoress of Douglas, Jon and Angela Joughin.

Mr Walton said: ’We were driving on the Mountain Road one day when Dylan looked up at Snaefell and said: "I could walk up that mountain"â?¦and he did.

’Nothing dissuades him and now he’s got his sights set on going to Wales and walking up Snowdon, which will take at least five hours.’

Unsurprisingly, for a young boy who loves camping in his back garden with his grandfather, Dylan’s hero is former SAS member and survival expert Bear Grylls, whose exploits are already inspiring his future career plans.