Telford businessman to beat his fears of heights . . . on Everest
Peter Forrest is planning to raise £500,000 for charity and conquer his fear of heights at the same time – by climbing to the summit of Mount Everest.
The businessman from Telford – who has never climbed before – plans to scale the world's highest mountain's treacherous north face.
The 55-year-old from Dawley is aiming to raise cash for British military veterans and children's charities when he embarks on the 29,029ft (8,848m) climb, which is due to take place next spring.
To make his challenge unique he will be taking with him a 2012 Olympic Torch, which he has borrowed from a service veteran.
He said: "Going up Everest while having a fear of heights sounds crazy, but I am confident I will be able to control it.
"More worrying at the moment is my claustrophobia, because I will have to use a sleeping bag in a small tent. When winds can reach 100 miles an hour and temperatures fall to below minus 30C, it's pretty important to use this equipment, so I will have to do special training in the coming months to prepare myself."
Mr Forrest, who is managing director of Panoptic Systems Integrations, based in Stafford Park, has had a fear of heights and enclosed spaces since he was a child. He also has a disease which restricts the movement of his fingers.
