A FORMER Weymouth schoolboy has climbed Africa’s highest mountain to raise cash for kidney failure sufferers like his father.

Mark McAllister’s dad Robert, from Weymouth, has to undergo three days of dialysis a week while he waits for his second kidney transplant.

Banking worker Mark, 42, scaled Mount Kilimanjaro with pal Bob Bazley to raise valuable funds for charity Kidney Research UK.

He said: “It was a wonderful experience and one I will never, ever forget.”

Mark was born in Weymouth and he attended Budmouth Technology College before joining the Army.

He now lives in London with wife Simone and daughters Laura and Rebecca, and works for US banking giant Merrill Lynch.

Mark, who still regularly visits Weymouth, impressed friends and family by cycling from the capital to Dorset in 2009. But he decided to go one better and tackle an even bigger challenge this year – climbing the 19,341ft peak in Tanzania.

Mark said: “I wanted to raise as much as I could for Kidney Research UK.

“It’s obviously a charity close to my heart, as my father has kidney failure.”

Dad Robert, 59, had his first kidney transplant around 22 years ago but it recently failed again and he is now waiting for a crucial second operation.

But he still works as a bricklaying instructor at the Verne prison on Portland and continues to enjoy walks and rounds of golf.

Mark said: “He’s always so cheerful and positive, despite having to spend three days a week receiving dialysis while waiting for his transplant.”

Mark and friend Bob spent 18 months preparing for the gruelling climb before heading for Africa.

The pair braved ever-decreasing oxygen levels and plummeting temperatures to reach the summit.

Despite the gruelling ordeal, Mark joked: “It was a walk in the park compared to the daily commute into London.

“I really want to thank everyone who supported me and generously donated funds to Kidney Research UK.”

Mark’s mum Patricia McAllister, 64, of St George’s Avenue, Weymouth, said: “Mark is always up for a challenge.

“Happily, all went well and he made it to the summit of Kilimanjaro. He’s managed to raise £1,450 already.

“I’m incredibly proud of him, as are his father and sisters Lisa and Carly.

“He’s already thinking of his next adventure, but he hasn’t revealed what it is just yet.”

To sponsor Mark visit the website www.kidneyresearchukevents.org/kilimanjaro