Colchester soldier to complete trek for Army charity
A soldier from the Parachute Regiment is training for a 200-mile solo trek from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp and back again for charity.
Cpl Shawn Stock, from 3 Para based in Colchester, is self-funding the walk which leaves Essex on 1 April.
The 35-year-old is aiming to complete the round trip in a month.
He hopes to raise £3,000 for the Afghanistan Trust, which supports wounded soldiers and the families of those wounded or killed in action.
"I've been in 3 Para for a number of years and I really want to do something for my regiment," said Cpl Stock.
In preparation for the walk, Cpl Stock has been doing a lot of long distance running.
He has given himself two weeks to get to the turn-around point and believes the return should be "much quicker".
He told BBC Essex the initial 84 miles would be covering harsh terrain, and he had given himself a target of completing 14 miles a day.
"In order to raise awareness for the Afghanistan Trust you have to do harsh things to get the message across," said Cpl Stock.
"There's no use doing a mile run, nobody is going to really listen to that.
"I'll be funding it myself. I've got my own tent and where there's a tea house or barn or monastery I'll be staying there," he added.
Cpl Stock is confident he will not encounter any problems on the trek.
"It's all in the bag, it's all planned."