‘Too old and too fat’ – but on a mission to climb up Everest to help nurses.

Stevenage’s Garry Young will set off on Monday to Nepal where he will begin an 18-day trek to climb the 17,600 feet to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain.

The 49-year-old of Ayr Close will celebrate his fiftieth birthday in Kathmandu on Tuesday before flying to Lukla to make the trek up the Nepali face of the mountain to raise money for cancer support specialists Macmillan.

“This trek is a challenge for anyone, but for me – a very overweight 50-year-old it’s a huge challenge,” Garry said.

“It’s all new to me. I’ve been doing loads of walking and lost two stone,” he added. “It’s just the whole experience I’m looking forward to.”

He said what he was most worried about was not the climb however, but the landing in Lukla.

“Getting past Lukla Airport will be the worst bit – it’s got a reputation as the most dangerous airport in the world,” he said.

His inspiration for the challenge came after his mother Valerie twice beat breast cancer with the help of Macmillan nurses. A former employee on the cancer unit at Lister Hospital, she now volunteers for the charity.

Garry aims to raise �1,000. To help him reach his goal, go to www.justgiving/garryyoung