Essex dad to take on "one of the toughest challenges on the planet" to raise money for cancer charity
James Roe will be running 42 kilometres at over 5000 metres of altitude
An Essex dad and roofer will be running "one of the toughest challenges on the planet" to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer.
James Roe is training for the Everest Marathon, where he will run 42.2 kilometres at an altitude of over 5000 metres in the Himalayas.
James will be completing the run in memory of his stepson Logan, who died from neuroblastoma at just three years old.
He told us it is a "life-changing experience" dealing with cancer, and said he is motivated to raise as much money as he can for Young Lives vs Cancer.
James said: "I just want to represent my family and just give something back and try and give some hope to people.
"It is life changing when you listen to your wife pray for your son to not be in pain any more, but then God takes your son away and you can never imagine that is God's answer.
"To this day it affects her life and our children's life, it is a massive part of why we're raising money for Young Lives vs Cancer."
James' training routine sees him in various locations across the county, including Luxborough Lake in Chigwell, and Epping Forest.
"I'm awake at like 4-5 in the morning depending on the day. I'll be doing Peloton riding, conditioning, running, pretty much six days a week.
"In between that I am running a roofing company, going to church meetings, trying to see my wife and kids at the same time. It is full on."
James said that the run itself will be "dangerous."
"People have died doing this challenge, flying into one of the smallest, most dangerous runways in the world.
"Then we've got to do a trek to base camp. When you get there your body might just say 'I don't like this altitude' and you can get altitude sickness and then you may have to come down.
"People that would do the London Marathon in 3:30, it has taken them over eight hours to do the marathon at base camp.
"I'll be thinking about home, I'll be thinking about my family, I'll be thinking about Young Lives vs Cancer.
"There's going to be times when you're going to want to stop. I think it's inevitable, especially on how tough it is. I like a challenge, I am ready to push myself.
"Hopefully we can raise a lot of money for the charity. That is really what it is all about."
James has thanked anyone that has donated.