PLANTING a charity’s flag on top of the highest mountain on each continent is the dream of Alton man Ben Moss.

He wants to look down from Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Aconcagua in South America, Puncak Jaya in Oceania, Vinson in Antarctica, Denali in North America and Everest in Asia while raising funds for the Nephrotic Syndrome Trust (NeST).

His five-year-old stepdaughter Etta has the rare and debilitating kidney condition.

Ben said: “The majority of children will grow out of this in early adulthood.

“But the road to this point is a dangerous and scary one.

“The treatment is non-specific and highly toxic; a course of steroids is usually the first step.

“Attempts at treatment are a series of trial and error ways of trying to manage and prevent relapses.

“These come with a string of life-threatening risks and complications.”

Medication has weakened Etta’s immune system, and she could relapse at any time, making infections including Covid a serious threat to her.

Her condition is managed with chemotherapy drug mycophenolate mofetil.

Ben said: “Luckily for Etta this is working at the moment, but her body could reject this and be right back in relapse at any point.

“This provides high risk of infection and serious blood clots to name just a few dangers.

“Sufferers could end up looking at transplant or even dialysis options.”

NeST supports the Bristol Renal team at the University of Bristol, which is researching a cure.

And last July Ben raised just over £1,000 for the team on the Three Peaks Challenge.

But as of 2016, only 416 people had reached all seven summits Ben is contemplating.

Ben said: “The Three Peaks Challenge was a great achievement. But it left a taste in my mouth. How could I go bigger?

“These are terrains that test human resolve to the very limit.

“Every penny you donate goes directly to the charity and stays with them.

“These climbs, this entire challenge, will be funded by a mixture of my own money and hopefully forms of corporate sponsorship along the way.”

For details, and to sponsor Ben for his Kilimanjaro trek next February, visit his JustGiving fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fund
raising/ben-moss7summits