A CANCER survivor will be joining his son on a charity trek to the Mount Everest base camp next month.

David McLenachan and son Tom will be leaving the comfort of their homes in Ainsworth and London to embark on the journey to Nepal in aid of Bury Cancer Support Centre and University College London's Nepal Earthquake Appeal.

David, aged 59, of Church Street, underwent treatment for bowel cancer less than two years ago and is hoping the trek can raise at least £1,000 for the Bolton Road centre.

He said: "I'm putting the blame for this entirely on my son. We have talked for a while about going on a trip to India as father and son, and it was his suggestion to do the base camp trek.

"He has climbed a mountain in Vietnam and Mount Olympus before, so he might be a bit more prepared than me.

"In a moment of madness I was daft enough to say 'yes'. The closer it comes, the more you think to yourself, 'why am I doing this?'

"No matter how much practice you have, you can't prepare for the altitude and you don't know how your body will react to that.

"I had my treatment nearly two years ago for bowel cancer. I had radiotherapy treatment and an operation to remove part of the bowel.

"This seems like a good way to celebrate the success of the treatment and to help a couple of great causes."

During the two-week trek in April, the pair will travel 38 miles in the Himalayas from Lukla Tenzing Hilary Airport at an altitude of 2,860 metres to the base camp, which is at an altitude of 5,364 metres – four times higher than Ben Nevis.

They will be carrying about 10kg of equipment in their rucksacks.

Although April provides some of the year's most favourable climbing weather in Nepal, temperatures can still dip to -10C at night, and the father and son have also been warned to avoid fierce local yaks on their travels.

Mr McLenachan, a speaker and photographer, added: "Tom and I will be doing the three peaks in the Lake District to finish off our training, but I think Everest is going to be a bit more arduous. I do my best with my hiking and, although I'm not the fittest person around, I hope I will be alright."

To sponsor David and Tom, click here.