A couple from Oakworth are preparing for the pinnacle of marathon running on the slopes of Mount Everest.

Stewart Gardner and Charlotte Roberts will tackle the gruelling run around the Himalayan mountain, describ-ed as the highest and hardest marathon in the world.

Charlotte, 41, from Lane Ends, says they both became interested in doing the mara-thon after seeing an advert in the Fell Runners Association magazine.

She says: "I'm particularly interested in running long distance events so this is really the next step up. The event is run every two years and so we thought this would be the perfect year to do it."

Charlotte, who lectures in biological anthropology at Bradford University, adds: "I have been to Nepal before on a short trek and I fell in love with the stunning countryside and the warmth of the people."

The two members of the Calder Valley Fell Runners club in Mytholmroyd will fly to Katmandu, the Nepalese capital, on March 20 to experience the ultimate in marathons.

Their levels of physical fitness will be put to the test even before the race has started. To reach the start line close to Everest Base Camp, they will have to climb 17,000 feet above sea level. It involves trekking through the Himalayan foot-hills for 16 days and camping in temperatures as low as -20C.

The steep climbs will be nothing new to either Stewart or Charlotte, who regularly take part in fell races across the hills of North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Stewart, 45, who works as a jeweller in Halifax, says: "It is supposed to be the toughest marathon in the world so we are getting in plenty of training now. It is the altitude which is the greatest unknown quantity because you could be the fittest person in the world and still not be able to race.

"Eight doctors are going along with us and they won't let us race if the altitude has a profound effect on our running."

They will be joined on the stamina-sapping event by 65 hardy athletes from across the globe.

Cash raised by the couple will be donated to various charities including Manorlands, the Oxenhope cancer-care hospice, and the Everest Marathon Fund, which supports aid work in Nepal. The six marathons run on the course so far have raised more than £225,000 for the special aid fund.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the couple can contact Charlotte on 01274 383538.

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