A Teignmouth man spent Friday (July 5) cycling on a static bike outside Co-op in preparation for a trek to Everest base camp later this year.

Ryan Hallett, who works for Co-op, will be making the 12-day expedition in November to raise funds for Barnado’s.

Co-op has chosen Barnado’s as its charity partner and the supermarket is aiming to raise £5m to help young people access basic needs, improve their mental wellbeing and create opportunities for their future.

Ryan hopes to raise at least £6000 and the static cycle outside Co-op on Bank Street was not just about physical training but raising money towards his total as well.

Everest Base Camp is one of three major fundraising events organised as part of Co-op’s fundraising initiative and Ryan will be part of a team of 12 Co-op members undertaking the challenge.

The trek is 112.5 km with an additional 2km after base camp to visit Kala Pattar (Black Rock). Base camp is 5364 metres above sea level and Kala Pattar is at 5554 metres above sea level.

‘I have done fundraisers before, but nothing as extreme as this one,’ Ryan said. ‘The last fundraiser was for Mind and involved skydiving at 15,000 feet,’ he added. The altitude of this trek will probably be Ryan’s biggest challenge. Particularly as ‘the altitude of the highest mountains here are not even half the height of where we are aiming for’.

Anyone wanting to donate to Ryan’s Everest fundraiser can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ryan-hallett-1694452337271