A
British team of adventurers is about to embark on a
daredevil cycle ride in the Himalayas to
raise money for a school while setting a new record for the world's highest bike ride.
Serial adventurer Neil Laughton, 60, who has previously climbed Mount Everest with Bear Grylls, will lead a team of five up the Putha Hiunchuli mountain, North West Nepal.
Departing the UK on August 31st, Laughton expects the climbs to take 15 days while the rather speedier ride back down will last just three.
"I've spent much of the past few weeks on a treadmill with a Brompton bicycle strapped to my back getting ready for this challenge.
"This is just the sort of adventure I enjoy," adds Laughton. "A big physical and mental challenge, travelling to a beautiful and remote location with close friends and also raising money for a very good cause.
"It will also be great to take the record off the Germans."
However, Laughton and his team say there is also a much more serious reason for their mission which is to raise funds and carry out building work on the struggling Tensing Norgay school in Nepal.
"The people of Nepal have always treated us with incredible kindness. So when I saw the condition of its dilapidated school where 70 children were trying to learn in a freezing cold building with no insulation, proper flooring and very little furniture, I was appalled and felt moved to do something about it.
"We've been improving the building"s insulation and heating. We have also added solar panels to the roof.
"So far, we've raised £15,000 and we"ll use it for further improvement and also install internet access and provide IT training and 10 laptops for the children."
Laughton, who lives in Henfield, Sussex, previously attempted his cycle ride in 2022 but the team's effort was thwarted by a severe storm.
He expects the challenge to be hard but, weather permitting, believes it will be successful.
The team took part in a gruelling training programme as part of the preparation for the expedition.
"All members of the team have been working hard to prepare for this demanding expedition by hiking up the hills of the South Downs with our bikes and riding down again.
"We have also all undergone an intensive programme of pre-altitude training in The Altitude Centre in London.
"The training involved 20 hours on an inclined treadmill, carrying the bike and wearing a mask that simulates high altitude by taking the oxygen levels down from 21 per cent to 9 per cent."