HE'S a little lad with big ideas to help children in Africa.
Five-year-old Oliver Harper has just scaled Yorkshire's second-highest peak with his cousin William Terry, also five, raising hundreds of pounds for charity.
Now, Oliver has set his sights on conquering Yorkshire's highest peak to double his fundraising efforts.
The Leven Primary School pupil raised £640 in sponsorship for Water For Kids by climbing Yorkshire's 2,372ft Ingleborough peak with his family.
Now, he wants to boost the sum to a £1,300 target by taking on 2,415ft Whernside – the highest summit in the Yorkshire Dales.
Oliver said: "Climbing Ingleborough was good, I went up with my cousin and family and it was seven miles.
"When we were nearly at the top we had to climb some rocks and when we reached the top we had to put a stone on a pile of rocks to say we were at the top.
"Now, I am going to walk up Whernside in the summer holidays."
He is determined to tackle the challenging peak to raise enough money to help provide clean water for children in Uganda, through the charity Water For Kids.
Oliver, who was moved by the African children's plight when he saw an item on TV, says: "They have not got clean water so doing this will help them."
Oliver's dad, James Harper, 34, said: "I am a totally proud dad. Both Oliver and his cousin William were amazing.
"They did the Ingleborough walk in just over five-and-a-half hours and still had enough energy for a game of footy back at the campsite.
"I don't think Oliver and William realise what an achievement they have made – for them it was just a great day out with their family and an excuse to eat more chocolate and sweets than I have ever seen a pair of five-year-olds consume!"
But Mr Harper, who is the managing director of a design and marketing agency, insisted Oliver is serious about hitting his £1,300 fundraising target for Water For Kids.
The sum will provide a clean water source, health education and toilets for at least 500 children living in Uganda.
He said: "Ollie seems pretty committed to making his target – £1,300 is a big amount of money at the moment and to clear half of that shows how generous people can be.
"So far he's up to £640 which is a great effort and money is still coming in.
"He has already planned his next challenge though and again it's all from him.
"He wants to walk Whernside, the highest peak in Yorkshire, this summer to try to raise the other half of the funds to pay for a well to provide safe drinking water and good sanitation for children."
A spokesman for Water For Kids, which helps provide safe drinking water in several African countries, said Oliver is their youngest supporter.
She said: "Water For Kids is thrilled to have such an enthusiastic young fundraiser as Oliver Harper.
"The brilliant effort that he made with his family and friends will help provide safe drinking water for children in Africa and prevent them from missing school because of illness.
"Thank you Oliver, our youngest supporter!"
Visit www.justgiving.com/ollies-well- africa to donate to Oliver's fundraising.
