Nia Catrin Thomson has raised £3,000 by walking from Penarth Pier to Penarth Head Park and back again 64 times in 26 hours - equivalent to the distance between Everest's base camp and summit.

The money will fund a mobility trike for Leon Thompson - a seven-year-old boy from Staffordshire with cerebral palsy - with a large surplus going towards his future treatment and care.

Nia went to Aberystwyth University with Leon's mother Kasia Thompson. She completed the 120 kilometre feat on Sunday evening with the help of her personal trainer Ryan Evans from 121 Motivation and the "amazing" support of the people of Penarth.

"I just sort of feel hungover," Nia tells Nub News the day after completing the challenge. "It was unbelievably difficult at times and I really wouldn't have been able to do it without all the support.

"We were able to schedule it so there was pretty much someone with me throughout the 26 hours.

"I live alone so after a year of isolation it was amazing to bring people together doing something like this. Ryan particularly is amazing - he gets you to achieve things you didn't think you could."

Most of all, Nia was motivated by Leon's story, which she has watched unfold over the last seven years.

Leon was born at 29 weeks and 3 days making him almost 11 weeks premature. As a result, he has cerebral palsy and is currently non-verbal and unable to walk.

With the goal of one day watching Leon taking his first steps, the Thompson family and various donors have raised over £60,000 for his treatment and care.

Generous strangers have run 100s of miles and submitted individual donations up to £350 for the cause.

Such acts of incredible altruism funded Leon's SDR surgery at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in October 2018, which improved his quality of life and sets him on the path towards taking those first steps.

"Kasia and I have been friends for a long time. We've known each other since we were at uni so I've been there throughout her journey with Leon's disability," explains Nia.

"I'm fully aware of the financial needs of Leon's growing body and the amount of equipment he needs, so I've always had the idea in the back of my mind to do a fundraiser.

"The thing that got me was when they said they wanted to get him a trike so he could go and play in the park with his little sister and just be a normal little boy.

"I train with a trainer called Ryan Evans at 121 Motivation in Penarth and told him I wanted to do a fundraising thing. Because he's been training me, he knows where I'm at and we came up with the idea - the right balance between challenging and achievable."

Nia and Ryan initially planned the "Moving Mountains" walk to last 24 hours and expected the Everest goal to be out of sight.

But during the walk Nia decided to dig deep and hit the Everest milestone after almost exactly 26 hours.

She started at 2PM on Saturday afternoon and finished at 4PM on Sunday afternoon, walking through the night.

Nia had only been training for the walk for eight weeks, but her most impressive overachievement is the total she ultimately raised.

"I'm absolutely blown away - I really can't believe it," she says. "Friends and family were amazing with donations but the number of people who saw what was happening and donated was truly amazing.

"The people of Penarth were incredible. I need to count up the collection box but I think we've hit £3,000.

"I originally wanted to make a contribution to the trike, but we smashed that and now we can contribute to Leon's other needs.

"For example, he needs £2,000 worth of wheelchair parts and needs another assessment. He's going to need lifelong care so please keep donating.

"All the money goes to Tree of Hope, who support Leon's family. There's always ongoing costs, so I would urge people to keep donating as much as they can."

Leon's mother, Kasia, says it is difficult to overstate the difference the money and the trike will make to his well-being and treatment.

"Leon requires daily physiotherapy to gain strength and retrain his brain in order to learn how to take steps of his own," she says.

"An adapted trike is one of the best forms of therapy and will allow him to ride alongside his younger sister.

"So much of his therapy is hard and boring for him - Leon loves to be outside and this is a form of therapy that is fun!"

She says the family has been overwhelmbed by Nia's selflessness and resolve.

"We are so very honoured and proud of Nia! She has inspired so many people who watched her in person and on social media complete her walk.

"I felt all of her emotions watching her finish the challenge - it was such an epic undertaking and thanks to her efforts, we can now order Leon's trike today! Just in time for Christmas."

Nia wanted to give a special thanks to Ryan, "who stayed out for the entire event to manage the event and monitor my welfare and progress and speak to passers by etc."

To donate to Leon's cause here.