ADVENTURER Stuart Foulstone, who nearly drowned on an earlier fundraising challenge, is now to take on a Himalayan trek to raise money for Julia's House.
Mr Foulstone, 49, from Roundway Village, Devizes, will fly out on March 28 for the three week hike to Everest Base Camp on a route which is popularly known as base camp the hard way.
This will be no surprise to Mr Foulstone's friends and family who still remind him of the time he nearly died doing white water rafting along the Zambezi river in Africa four years ago as he raised money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
He said: "Everyone still reminds me of that but it didn't put me off wanting to raise money for good causes and I believe Julia's House children's hospice is a fantastic charity. When you hear some of the stories about the children they help it is heartbreaking.
"As a father of three myself it really brings home to you difficulties some families face and the wonderful work of Julia's House. It is wonderful they are opening a new hospice in Devizes and I want to do what I can to help."
He said his version of the Everest Base Camp expedition is extremely challenging as it crosses three 5,500m high passes in the Himalayas.
He said: "I will cross the Kongma La to Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar.I will complete a tough but spectacular traverse over the Cho La to the alpine pastures and lakes of Gokyo.
"From Gokyo Ri, where I will be able to gain outstanding views of Everest I will then head over the Renjo La with views into Tibet, to the wild upper Bhote Kosi.
"I will traverse the entire Everest region before flying out from Lukla to Kathmandu. My nights will be spent in a combination of wilderness camps and campsites, along with eco lodges. The weather is likely to be dry but cold with the nights dropping well below zero. I will be trekking though snow and ice and at the higher altitudes over glaciers."
The civil engineer now hopes people will sponsor him and help him to reach his minimum target of £1,000 for Julia's House. His expedition is self funded so all donations go to the charity. You can donate £10 by text by texting SEBC99 £10 to 70070. Or go to www.justgiving.com/EBC1
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