Ed Jackson will begin his stairs challenge on Tuesday
A quadriplegic man plans to climb the equivalent height of Everest by ascending a staircase more than 2,000 times.
Ed Jackson hopes to raise £10,000 for charities with the challenge, which involves climbing 89,056 steps at his parents’ home.
The former rugby player, now an ambassador for outdoors brand Berghaus, will begin the climb on Tuesday, and expects to take four days to achieve the target of 2,783 trips up and down the steps, equal to the 8,848m height of the world’s tallest mountain.
He expects to spend eight hours a day in his effort to raise cash for NHS-affiliated charity Forever Friends, spinal cord research foundation Wings for Life, and Neverest Orthopaedics.
In 2017, Ed Jackson fractured multiple vertebrae in his spine and doctors warned him that he might never walk again. A Berghaus spokesperson said the 31-year-old has a deep love of mountains and one day hopes to be the first quadriplegic to climb Mount Everest.
“With Covid-19 forcing the world into lockdown, a staircase at Ed’s parent’s house in Bath has for the time being become his personal Everest,” the spokesperson said. “During his challenge, Ed will use some of the gear that he will take with him when he is able to travel to the Himalaya, including Berghaus kit.”
Mr Jackson said: “It’s a tough time for us all at the moment and charities are certainly no exception. After cheering others on from the sofa, I decided it was time to do my bit to support some causes close to my heart.
“I have always dreamed of being able to scale the height of Everest, I just didn’t think that I would be doing it next to my parents’ bedroom.”
The charities to benefit from his challenge are a spinal-cord research organisation, the Royal United Hospital in Bath and an organisation providing orthopaedic support in Nepal.
Ed Jackson will begin his challenge at 7.30am on Tuesday 21 April and hopes to finish at 9pm on Friday 24. Donations towards Ed’s cause can be made via his Virgin Money Giving page.
Updates will also be posted on Instagram pages @edjackson8 or @berghausofficial.
