If you are into challenges to raise money – it doesn’t get any tougher than running up Mount Everest.

But two runners from Ripon in Yorkshire, Neil Gray and Bob Hesp have secured a place in the Everest mountain marathon 2007, after applying to get in this event for the last five years.

And they will be doing it to raise cash for CdLS.

Athletes from all over the world apply for the 75 available places and face months of hard training and charity fund raising before the race day which takes place on December 5th this year.

The first obstacle is to reach the start line which is close to Everest base camp which is approx 17000ft.

They have to trek through the Himalayan foothills of Nepal for 16 days and camp out in temperatures as low as -20degrees C.

This gets their bodies acclimatized to the harsh conditions.

Both Neil and Bob are experienced runners having completed marathons in London, New York, Vancouver and China.

Their biggest achievement was when they both took part in the ultra marathon, the 56 mile run known as the ‘Comrades’ in South Africa in 2005.

As always, their pain has never been without reward, and they are hoping to raise a decent amount of money for their chosen charity.

The CdLS foundation is one charity that is close to Bob’s heart. His nephew, Jamie Chiu has the syndrome.

After attending a regional meeting near Manchester with Jamie’s parents Jimmy and Siobhan Chiu, Bob says it opened his eyes to the work the foundation is doing through early diagnosis, information to parents and continual medical research.

Both Bob and Neil are keen to help raise money to enable the foundation to carry on its highly effective work.

CdLS families who want to join in the support of Bob and Neil can donate through www.justgiving.co/cdls