George Joseph is preparing to climb just beyond the base camp of Mount Everest in November to raise money for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
Originally born in South Africa, the 37-year-old moved to Stratford in 2001 where a chance meeting with a British Army officer led to him signing up to serve his adopted country for two years.
Now working as a Helping Hands carer – providing support for patients with dementia - he will fly to Nepal on November 7.
Aside from a few days of recuperation and acclimatisation, he will trek between two and four hours per day in temperatures as low as -25 degrees until he reaches around 18,000ft (5,550m). He is expected to reach his goal on November 19.
But it is not the gruelling trek that bothers the father of twins, more the flight in and out of the notorious mountain airport of Lukla.
George told the Observer: "Lukla Airport where I am due to land and take off just before and after the expedition has the shortest runaway and is the most dangerous airport in the world.
"I've got no fear of undertaking the event but the thought of the flight actually scares me more than the challenge.
"I thrive off adrenaline and I've always wanted to do mad things in my life but like everyone, I've got goals in life. For me, when I reach old age I want to be able to show my kids what I did when I was younger.
"I trekked for five days across the desert in Fish River Canyon, South Africa and I think this combined with the experience I gained in the British Army will definitely help me during the challenge.
"Obviously you've got to be in good shape so I have been doing a lot of cardiovascular work but altitude always affects people differently so I guess we will have to see.
"If I make it through this challenge in one piece I would like to put myself forward to do the summit in about 3 or 4 years time but for now, November can't come soon enough!”
Before the climb George will be holding a number of fund-raising events - the first of which will be a quiz night at The Crown in Tiddington from 7.30pm on Friday April 26.
