A TREK to the roof of the world may not be the wisest trip for Louise Larner.
It's not the cold – although it will be -10C – that is proving daunting for Louise. Nor the arduous walk that will get her close to the world's highest mountain.
It's not even the risk of altitude sickness, which can be life-threatening, that is worrying the 30-year-old physiotherapy manager at Spire Hartswood Hospital in Brentwood.
Louise is scared of heights.
Having to cross tiny suspension footbridges, one of which sits about 40 metres above a raging river, is the part of her trip she is trying not to think about.
Louise is planning to fly out to Nepal in March for a 17-day round-trip to Everest Base Camp. She hopes to raise at least £5,545 for Saint Francis Hospice – representing one pound for each metre she will be above sea level when she reaches Base Camp.
Louis said: "Saint Francis Hospice does amazing work and they looked after a family friend which is why I wanted to help them.
"I made the decision to do something big for charity, but I only found out about the bridge part later. I'm not going to think about it. I'm just going to cross that bridge when I get to it."
Louise will fly into Kathmandu and from there into Lukla airport, high in the Himalayas, where she will make the trip up to 5,545 metres, or 18,000 feet above sea level in the shadow of Everest.
Louise, who lives with her husband Paul Larner in Holbrook Close, Billericay, said: "It's going to be hard and there are parts of the trip that will scare the life out of me. But I know why I'm doing it.
"While I'm doing it, all I need to think about is however hard I'm finding it, there are people in the hospice who are having a much tougher time."
Louise, who expects to be walking with about six others and a team of sherpas who will be carrying the bulk of the equipment and provisions, said: "We actually get to Base Camp on day 12 of the hike but the highest point is on day 13.
"We then come down in four days. It shows you just how hard-going the trip up to Base Camp is going to be. We have to go slowly because of the way the oxygen levels get lower and we don't want to risk altitude sickness."
Anyone who want to donate to Louise's fundraising effort can go to www.justgiving.com/Louise-Larner
