1:00pm Sunday 9th November 2008
By Richard Pilcher
Intrepid Chiswick graduates are aiming to raise £250,000 for charity and set a world record by playing cricket on Mount Everest.
Former St Paul’s School students Chris Martin and Ben Jarman, both 22, are part of an expedition aiming to play the highest ever Twenty20 match on Everest’s base camp next April.
Two 15-man squads named after the first men to conquer Everest in 1953 – Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay – will face-off 5,165m above sea level on the Gorak Shep plateau.
Chris said: “I’m really excited to be involved in a record that should last for a while. I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to go higher than Everest’s base camp.”
The pair graduated this summer and shortly after returning to Chiswick became the youngest members of the record attempt.
Although neither have played cricket for some time they believe they have what it takes to secure victory for Team Hillary.
Ben said: “There’s no point in going up there to play cricket and not winning it.
“There would be nothing more annoying than not putting in the leg work to be fit so we’re working hard already.
“Obviously it will take time to acclimatise but my biggest fear is getting ill and not being able to take part.”
But despite completing a 5km run dressed in full cricket gear, the adventurers know this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Only 65 per cent of the oxygen found at sea level exists 17,000ft up Everest and many climbers suffer altitude sickness.
The money raised will be divided equally between the Himalayan Trust and Sport Relief and players will donate kit to Khumjung School on their descent.
For more information visit theeveresttest.com.
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