'Emotional' as 9-year-old with Tourette's conquers 214 Wainwrights

Leo Mason, from Allonby, led a group of 28 hikers up Silver How on Sunday (June 2). 

The Wainwright challenge, named after Alfred Wainwright, was completed by Leo and his father Michael 13 months ahead of their scheduled plan.

Now that the dust has settled, they plan to do it again—this time, even quicker.

“Leo was absolutely buzzing," Michael said.

Leo Mason and his father Michael at the top of Silver How (Image: Tickinemoff)

"It was a really nice day, loads of people turned out. We’d never met anybody who joined us apart from two people.

“It was an emotional end for me as well, I was so proud of Leo," he said. 

The strong turnout of supporters came from those who have been following Leo’s journey on Facebook through his page Tickinemoff.

With Leo's involuntary ticks from his Tourette's syndrome becoming less severe due to stress management, sleep and exercise, the difference, as Michael described, "is night and day" since they first set out. 

Guard of Honour for Leo as the Mason family celebrates his accomplishments. (Image: Tickinemoff)

“It’s unbelievable the support his page is getting, it is reaching hundreds of thousands of people every month.

“Leo inspires people, it’s so lovely. It’s the biggest comment we get on the page about how inspiring Leo has been.

“People are now getting up and getting out themselves because they are seeing what Leo is doing.

"Yesterday, we had David join us who hadn’t been out on the Fells for 30 years, he said it was final Wainwright but he wanted to do it with Leo," Michael said.

Leo during his 214 Wainwrights challenge (Image: Tickinemoff) 

As Leo is set to turn 10 in the coming weeks, the family will be having some quiet time before they set off conquering Wainwrights again. 

More group hikes will be announced on the Tickinemoff Facebook with everyone encouraged to join and follow Leo's journey.