NINE-year-old Charlie Bray and his mum Helen will be spending the next three weeks climbing Britain’s tallest mountain and raising money for the NHS – without leaving their Minehead home.

The current lockdown may have prevented climbing enthusiasts Charlie and Helen from tackling the real thing but they still hope to complete the sponsored ascent –by climbing their stairs 560 times to equal the 1,345 height of Scotland’s Ben Nevis.

After climbing Mount Snowdon in Wales last year, Helen and Charlie hoped to take on a new real-life challenge this year – until the lockdown dashed their hopes.

“Charlie was frustrated to be cooped up at home away from his school and friends so we decided that we would do some virtual mountaineering on our stairs and raise money for the NHS,” Helen said.

Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, was chosen for the attempt:“Our 12 stairs are each 20cm high, which meant we needed to climb them 560 times to replicate getting to the top of Ben Nevis. The stairs are quite narrow so we have to go one at a time. Charlie goes first and I tag along behind!

“We do about 25 flights a day, taking around 15 minutes and after Charlie has finished his school work.

“At our present rate we should be at the summit in about three weeks, although Charlie would like to get there faster – he’s a lot fitter than me – but I find 25 flights a day absolutely exhausting,” said Helen, a Minehead supply teacher.

Charlie’s 11-year-old sister Lorena, as “chief counter and invigilator”, makes sure that every day’s total is accurate: “She keeps track of us and sees that we’re doing it right,” Charlie said.

Currently an NHS and coronavirus group volunteer, picking up prescriptions and helping the housebound with their shopping, Helen has always encouraged her family to be active and adventurous: “We can’t wait to get out into the countryside again when this is over,” she said.

On Wednesday fund-raising stood at £220 and fast approaching Charlie’s initial target of £250: “But I’d like to get much more than that,” said Charlie a Dunster First School pupil.

“If you can’t climb a real mountain this is the next best thing – and it’s raising money for a really good cause.”

To sponsor Charlie and Helen, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chazbray.