Climb with Rio: Dubai teenager to climb equivalent of Sydney Opera House with brother, 17, on her back

Tia Watson, 13, is taking on the challenge to raise awareness for people with disabilities

Tia Watson, 13, is planning to virtually climb Sydney Opera House with her brother, Rio, 17, strapped to her back. Courtesy Team Angel Wolf

Dubai teenager Tia Watson, 13, is set to virtually climb Sydney Opera House with her brother, Rio, 17, strapped to her back. The challenge is a part of the Climb with Rio initiative, which the Watson family launched in May, as a way to raise awareness of inclusion and people with disabilities.

Rio is a person of determination and has a rare chromosome disorder, 1q44 deletion syndrome, which affects his speed and motor skills. In May this year, the two teenagers' father, Nick Watson, climbed the equivalent of the Burj Khalifa with his son.

In May, Nick Watson climbed the equivalent of the Burj Khalifa with his son and now his teenage daughter is taking on a challenge of her own. Courtesy Team Angel Wolf

In order to take on the challenge on Saturday, September 26, the brother and sister duo will climb up and down the stairs of their home 9.25 times, which works out to be the equivalent of the Sydney Opera House. The building, located in Sydney Harbour, stands at 65 metres tall. The family estimate that it will take about one hour to complete.

"Although Tia has never been to Australia, but would love to go, it is an iconic building that she knew of in the continent and loved the design," Nick told The National. "It was also of the perfect height to make it a real challenge for her but not too high to make it impossible.

Tia and Rio, with their father, Nick Watson. Courtesy Team Angel Wolf

Tia weighs 42 kilograms and will be carrying her brother, who weighs 45kg.

"In my world I am his sister, his translator, his teacher and his helper; sometimes I have to make sacrifices and have a little more patience but most importantly, I am his best friend," Tia said.

"I am the voice of a sister of a brother with disabilities. My goal is to encourage our community to be active and inclusive by showing the rest of the universe how I live with the most amazing brother in the world!"

Dad Nick and mum Delphine are the husband-and-wife pair behind Team Angel Wolf, named after their two children – they call Rio “angel” and Tia “little wolf” – hence the name.

The family said in the statement: "Climb With Rio was initiated during the start of the lockdown in April to inspire a kinder and healthier community. The community is a hugely important aspect for the Watson family and hopes to motivate as many people as possible."

Nick explained to The National that for the Climb with Rio challenge they plan to "virtually visit a different continent to climb a landmark in that continent" each month.

"It has been amazing to witness how many people have embraced the challenge and do it with us monthly, be it families as a family relay, schools doing it as a PE project, corporates doing it as team building or wellbeing incentive," he added to The National.

"We love receiving the photos and videos of people participating, especially seeing little children happily getting involved. We have had people who use wheelchairs doing the challenge on flat surfaces or even descending staircases, someone with a broken foot did the challenge covering the distance in press ups. It has been a great inclusive community activity, which we can all safely do from our homes!"

This is not the only challenge Tia has taken on with her brother. Last month she started a #RunWithTiaAndRio challenge, running 3 kilometres a day for the 31 days of August, pushing Rio in his chair, which weighed a total of 60kgs.

The family is encouraging everyone to join the challenge, and they can check the progress and participation of other people by searching #ClimbWithRio on social media.

Tia and Rio will take on the Sydney Opera House virtual climb at 6pm (GST) on Saturday, September 26.

More information is available at www.teamangelwolf.com