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.
“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.