METRO VANCOUVER - An 18-year-old Vancouver man has broken the record for most ascents of the Grouse Grind in a single day.

Oliver Bibby completed his 16th ascent of the three-kilometre trail up the side of Grouse Mountain, beating the previous record of 15 climbs, in North Vancouver late Wednesday night.

The teenager was doing the event for charity and, as of Thursday morning, had raised more than $3,000 for the B.C. Children’s Hospital.

The money will go towards building a new cardiology area in the hospital, said Cherie Spence, a spokeswoman for B.C. Children’s Hospital. Construction is slated to be finished in 2017.

“When I heard that he actually beat the record I thought wow that’s amazing. It’s pretty incredible for an 18 year old.”

Another young man Colin Pither made the climb 15 times last week and tied the record. He raised $3,218 for the hospital, said Spence.

Both men were taking part in the hospital’s Grind for Kids program. Now in its fourth year, the program runs all summer and ends in September. So far this year, participants have raised $80,000 to help sick kids.

ticrawford@vancouversun.com