A GROUP of 20 old schoolfriends braved gale force winds and rain to climb three mountains to raise funds to help the son of their friend. Oliver Stevenson, aged six, of Althorp Road, St Albans, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis last year and is a regular

A GROUP of 20 old schoolfriends braved gale force winds and rain to climb three mountains to raise funds to help the son of their friend.

Oliver Stevenson, aged six, of Althorp Road, St Albans, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis last year and is a regular visitor to Watford Hospital for treatment.

But mum Victoria said: "Unfortunately Watford does not have a dedicated cystic fibrosis unit but we are hoping to raise funds for a dedicated cystic fibrosis nurse."

The lads set a target of �15,000 in sponsorship but have far exceeded their own expectations already by raising a massive �25,000.

Climber Ben Brophy said: "The challenge was to climb Ben Nevis then Scafell Pike then Snowdon all in 24 hours.

"The morning we set off up Ben Nevis we got a month's worth of average rainfall in one day.

This meant we got absolutely soaked and frozen on the top. One of the three groups, in their effort to get a headstart as the light was closing in, went the wrong way for two hours and Snowden was in total darkness as we scaled the miners' route with just the moonlight to guide us. "

The lads, who went to Verulam or Nicholas Breakspear schools and knew each other, all completed the task .