Dardanup man Greg Bragger has set himself a challenge to see 10 wonders of the world before he turns 50, and he is set to leave Australia next month on a quest to hike to the Mt Everest base camp.
He hopes the journey will raise $20,000, as well as awareness for the R U OK campaign and Camp Quality.
The FIFO worker said his body weight was coming off during the preparations to tackle the 5364m hike.
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READ NOW“I am trying to do as much cardio as I can,” Mr Bragger said. “There are not many hills I can train on a site, so it’s mainly the treadmill at the highest vibration.
“I’m excited (and ) nervous, obviously. The fundraising effort is ongoing and will last until I finish.”
Mr Bragger, 45, said his plan to make the trip and raise $10,000 for each of the charities was in part inspired by a previous conversation with a friend.
“I told him that while I was serving in the British Army, I had already seen the northern lights, done Egypt, and October just gone done Machu Picchu.
“I told him I would love to do Everest. His words, ‘you wouldn’t even make it to base camp’.”
The travel and photography buff was motivated to raise funds for the R U OK campaign because, as a veteran and a FIFO worker, he knows that “mental health is huge and mental health is for everybody”.
Camp Quality helped a family member who needed support after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
Mr Bragger will travel solo and take on the trek from April 18.
The trip is self-funded and the money raised will be given to R U OK and Camp Quality.