A father has reached the summit of Mount Blanc in his quest to raise money for his epileptic son.

Karl Donnan, of Great Bookham, has raised £17,000 for the National Society for Epilepsy after climbing to the top of Europe’s highest mountain.

Mr Donnan, a father-of-two, found inspiration for the challenge through his one-year-old son Ross, who suffers from a rare and as yet undiagnosed form of epilepsy.

He was accompanied on the trek by friend Richard Chapman, whose own son Archie died of a brain tumour when he was 14-months-old.

The pair set out on their challenge last Friday and due to fortunate weather reached the summit at midday of Saturday.

Mr Donnan said: “The weather cleared for that day only so we were very lucky and the climb was long and hard, but the feeling on the summit was amazing.”

The fundraising duo had planned a trek to the top of western Europe’s tallest mountain in the summer of 2008, but Mr Donnan, who works for Unilever in Leatherhead, had to postpone the climb to this year so he could concentrate on looking after Ross.

Talking about Ross’s illness, Mr Donnan said: “I am amazed how little is known about the human brain, especially the infant brain, and there are many different types of epilepsy for which no treatment has yet been found.

“The NSE carries out research into the condition and helps people with epilepsy and their families. I hope its research work may provide a breakthrough for Ross.”

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition and affects one in 131 people in the UK.

The money raised by Mr Donnan and Mr Chapman will help the National Society for Epilepsy in supporting everyone affected by epilepsy, through research, awareness campaigns and expert care.

Sponsorship money for the Mount Blanc climb is still rolling in and anyone still wishing to make a donation can visit justgiving.com/archiesmountain.

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