‘My knee is killing me’ says Hamdy, 61, after he conquers Mount Snowdon

On top of the world (well, Wales): Hamdy Shahein tackles Mount Snowdon. Credit: Hamdy Shahein

He was 61 last week, but campaigning newsagent Hamdy Shahein hasn’t let his advancing years stop him from scaling the knee-cracking and dizzy heights of the highest peak in England and Wales.

Mr Shahein, who has run his legendary newsagent in Stoke Newington High Street for over 30 years, is a prolific fundraiser for a range of charities.

He is taking part in the Shine sponsored night-time walking marathon for Cancer Research UK on 28 September and the Yorkshire Peaks Charity Challenge, which involves difficult hikes up mountains in North Yorkshire.

But he and a group of friends tackled Mount Snowdon in North Wales for the sheer enjoyment of it.

In Snowdonia. Hamdy, 61, hopes to take on Ben Nevis next. Photograph: Hamdy Shahein

“It was tough,” he says. “My knee is killing me. We made it up and down again in six hours. Now I want to try and do The Three Peaks Challenge, where you walk up the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – including Ben Nevis – within 24 hours. That would take me to a whole new level.”

To sponsor Hamdy’s Shine marathon in aid of Cancer Research UK visit his JustGiving page here.