Since the year 10 John McGlashan College pupil starting busking, in Dunedin six months ago with a sign reading, ''I'm Ben and I'm raising money for a climbing trip in Nepal'', he had made about $3500.
The money would be used for a month-long climbing trip with his father, Gary Mitchell, in the final quarter of this year.
He was aiming to raise $7000 for a guided ''three peaks'' trip, which would include two peaks more than 2000m high.
''One is really well known, called Island Peak.''
Imja Tse, better known as Island Peak, is in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal.
If he fell short of the $7000 target, Ben said he would climb the peaks, without a guide, for about $3000.
The songs making him the most money busking were Henry Mancini's The Pink Panther Theme and the Paul Desmond jazz piece Take Five.
Ben said he had not climbed overseas but had done in New Zealand for four years and his highest ascent was 2700m on Mt Cook.
