A FATHER who almost lost his two week-old daughter is trekking up the tallest mountain in Britain to raise money and awareness for the condition that nearly killed her.

Sophie O’Neill was barely days old when rushed back into hospital after she contracted a form of sepsis – a condition that affects the blood.

Her parents and doctor were so concerned, medics believed she may not see the day out.

Thankfully two years on, Sophie is just like any cheeky two-year-old and having fun with her sister Alexa.

But for father Steven, it could have been so different.

“Sophie was discharged after a couple of days from hospital but developed a bit of an illness,” Steven, 34, said.

“The house nurse thought she would be okay, but if it wasn’t for my wife and her trusting her instincts Sophie might not be here with us.

“We were so lucky that one of the doctors on call had experiences with diagnosing sepsis because many of the nurses are unaware of it. That day me and my wife were just in complete panic and fear.”

According the UK’s leading sepsis charity, UK Sepsis Trust, the disease causes more than 44,000 deaths in the country every year.

And although the number of deaths for a single disease are high, it remains a condition virtually unheard of outside of medicine.

Steven is planning to take on Ben Nevis in Scotland to raise funds for the Sepsis Trust. “

The disease is so easily treatable,” Steven continues.

“But there is just not enough information about how to diagnose the condition.

“We got lucky and we want to make sure others are too.”

To donate and sponsor Steven visit https://www.justgiving.com/Steven-BenNevis