A KELSALL teenager whose gruelling outdoor expeditions have raised thousands of pounds for charity will carry the Olympic torch through Chester later this year.

Sixteen-year-old outdoors enthusiast Alex Staniforth was chosen from thousands of local and national hopefuls, a year after he made history as the youngest person ever to scale the UK’s three highest mountains alone.

Nominated by a friend’s mother for his impressive achievement, the Tarporley High School student will carry the London 2012 torch from Beaumaris through to Chester on May 29.

After raising more than £1,500 climbing Ben Nevis, Mount Snowdon and Scafell Pike in just under 22 hours as part of the National Three Peaks Challenge, Alex was spurred on to continue fundraising for various charities by planning an even tougher feat – climbing the highest mountain in the Alps.

The teenager will tackle the staggering 15,720ft-high Mont Blanc on a week-long adventure trek in July, to raise as much money as possible for charities Cancer Research UK and REACT (Red Endangered Animal Connection Trust).

He has already been training hard to prepare by completing the Helsby Half Marathon in an hour and a half, running six times a week with West Cheshire Athletic Club where he is a member and training for the Chester Half Marathon in May.

Alex will join Chester grandmother Margaret McKeegan in carrying the torch next May.

The 77-year-old is a steadfast fundraiser who donates £30 of her pension every week to send more than 2,300 shoe boxes of goodies to soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as arranging charity nights to fund the boxes.

Speaking about his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Alex said: “I am extremely pleased and grateful about being given the honour to carry the torch.

“I was totally shocked when I was told, and it took a while to sink in.

“But it's going to be a truly awesome experience which will live with me for the rest of my life,” he added.

“I can't wait but I'm also nervous to have crowds of people and my family and friends watching me, so I hope I don't drop the torch!”

Sarah Lee, headteacher of Tarporley High School, spoke of the school’s ‘incredible pride’ for the teenager.

“Alex is an outstanding young man whose achievement of being the youngest person in the country to complete the Three Peaks Challenge has been deservedly recognised with the honour of carrying the Olympic torch,” she said.

“He has personally raised thousands of pounds for charity, and we are all incredibly proud of him.”

An average of 115 people a day will take centre stage next summer by carrying the Olympic Flame on its 8,000-mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on July 27 for the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.