FRIENDS and relatives of a boy who developed a rare eye condition are preparing to scale Africa’s highest peak to help fund vital research.

Freddie Richards was rushed to Southampton Children’s Hospital five years ago after he developed a shadow in his right eye, followed by one in his left eye three days later.

He was suffering from acute onset bilateral cataracts – which affects one in 10,000 children – and was almost blinded.

Freddie, now seven, underwent emergency surgery on both eyes to replace the lenses and thus save his vision.

His mother Hayley, of Maybush, said: “We were really up against it – if surgery had been delayed by even a few days he could have lost his sight.

“It was an incredibly scary time for our family.

“Freddie was always an outgoing little boy but the issues with his sight left him withdrawn.”

Now some of Freddie’s relatives, together with friends of the family, are preparing to trek to the summit of the 19,341ft Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

The money will go to Southampton charity Gift of Sight, which funds research into blindness.

One of the people taking part in the trek is Freddie’s uncle, Paul Osborne. He said: “Due to the outstanding care... Freddie has been able to live a happy, healthy and thankfully normal life.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-osborne-team-kilimanjaro.