WHEN Sam Parkin was asked what he wanted for his birthday there was just one thing on his mind - climbing Mount Snowdon.

Today the adventurous youngster, of York Road, Cliffe, near Selby, is celebrating his eighth birthday by climbing the highest mountain in Wales with his nine-year-old brother Joshua, mum Vicki, 46, and dad Michael, 53.

Not only is it a chance for the Cliffe Primary School pupil to realise his dream - he is also raising money for the Special Care Baby Unit in York.

Mrs Parkin, who is a senior infection control nurse at York Hospital, said: "We do a lot of climbing and walking, and he said that's what he wanted to do for his birthday.

"My other son, Joshua, suggested we take the opportunity to do something for the hospital and so it ended up that we were raising money for the Special Care Baby Unit.

"It was all the boys' idea."

Updated: 09:58 Saturday, May 03, 2003