Adventurous four-year-old to climb a mountain with his dog for animal rescue

Four-year-old Riley Caton and his assistance dog Narla plan a fundraising trek up Snowdonia for Basingstoke charity Helping Dogs and Cats, and their fundraiser has raised about £310 with the climb pencilled in for June.

Four-year-old Riley Caton and his assistance dog Narla are preparing to climb a mountain in Snowdonia to raise money for the Basingstoke animal rescue Helping Dogs and Cats. Riley, who has sensory needs, has benefited from Narla's calming presence in situations that could otherwise overstimulate him. The family says Narla was trained by volunteers at the charity. Riley's mother, Nikita Harrison, is documenting their progress on a Facebook group called Little Legs, Big Summit. Known details: - Riley Caton is four years old and lives in a family that cares for horses, cats and dogs. - Narla is an assistance dog who has been with Riley for around two years and was trained by volunteers at Helping Dogs and Cats. - The fundraiser was shared online on December 30 and has raised about £310 so far, with a stated target of £400. - The climb is pencilled in for June but may be pushed back depending on how training progresses. - Training walks and preparations are planned in the coming months, with family members and friends offering support. Summary: The family reports an encouraging early response to the fundraiser and says they are preparing through gradual training walks. The immediate next steps are to begin those walks and continue preparations ahead of the pencilled June climb, with the exact schedule undetermined if training needs require changes.