Former Surrey veteran prepares for handcycle expedition to Everest Base Camp
Ollie Thorn, who is paralysed from the chest down will be completing the expedition to raise money for a cure to spinal cord injury
A former British serviceman paralysed from the chest down is set to embark on an extraordinary journey to Everest Base Camp, aiming to become the first person to undertake the trek by handcycle.
Ollie Thorn will begin the two-week expedition on 18th April, navigating from around 3,000 meters to over 5,200 meters in altitude.
Oxygen levels are significantly reduced in this challenging environment, presenting a considerable physical test.
The journey spans hundreds of kilometers, incorporating steep mountain passes and remote plateaus.
Ollie will be part of a team of six tackling the demanding trek.
Funds raised will go directly to Wings for Life, a charity committed to finding a cure for spinal cord injury.
Ollie told us he feels privileged to be part of the process of finding a cure
"That's what made me excited. That's what made me want to think of some big kind of challenge to create a bit of a story, show what was possible with spinal cord injury, but also help trying to be a part of finding that cure."
He added that only recently, he had hope that there would be a cure for spinal chord injury
"I remember speaking to someone who was injured back in the 1970s and he always said to me, be very careful about false hope, because he'd seen so many lives that had been destroyed by false hope.
I was hoping in the back of my mind, but hope was at arm's length.
That was until I spoke to an old friend last year and she has a very similar injury to me. So she's paralysed in the chest down as well.
She's been injured a year longer than me and she was in a medical trial out in Switzerland. She was on the six month medical trial and she could walk.
This progress and development in finding a cure for spinal cord injury is real, and it's moving so much faster because of the developments of AI and big tech, and I suppose that's what made me excited."
He also spoke to us his personal dream around finding a cure
"I have a two year old and I had a little beautiful baby girl about seven weeks ago and I just think, how amazing would it be if I could ultimately walk her down the aisle?
Being a part of that journey to find a cure is incredibly special and it's going to be a massive driver for me in those kind of dark moments when I'm trying to breathe through a straw in the altitude to get up to base camp."
As Ollie is paralysed from the chest down, he has less lung function meaning the higher altitude will be a real test
Ollie is being supported by Peregrine Redgrave - a partner at the law firm Stewards who supported Ollie initially through his personal injury claim
He told us about what stood out in particular with Ollie's character
"What stands out is Ollie's resilience and determination, not just his physical capability of doing this. I mean, for most people, just to get to Everest Base Camp is an incredible achievement, but to do it in the way that Ollie's doing and being a first-hand cyclist is absolutely incredible.
When I first met him back at the National Spine Injury Centre, State Mandeville, he was incredibly resilient. This is someone who was not going to let his disabilities define who he was.
He's really pushed the boundaries and if Ollie's story makes someone rethink what's possible or support research that's already delivering results, it'd be worth every marvellous journey."