Jason limbers up for Everest challenge (From Salisbury Journal)

Jason limbers up for Everest challenge

12:30pm Saturday 18th February 2012 in News

A FINANCIAL adviser from the New Forest is swapping the office for the open air for a charity expedition.

Jason Coleman runs an office at a wealth management company at St James’s Place in Burley, and will be part of a group of 26 making the trek to the Everest base camp in April.

The team will fly to Kathmandu, in Nepal, to trek more than 120 miles of terrain to the base camp at a height of 17,500ft and will aim to climb Kala Patthar at 18,500ft.

Jason, 32, and his teammates are hoping to raise £500,000 for the St James’s Place Foundation, one of the most successful company charities in the UK.

Intensive training is now under way, with Jason – who climbed Snowdon and took part in the Ten Tors challenge when he was younger – currently trying alternative methods to boost his fitness.

He has been having weekly horse-riding lessons over the last nine months to build his core strength, balance and the co-ordination needed to deal with the difficult terrain.

He said: “This activity, coupled with endurance running along Bournemouth beach and learning to salsa dance, which helps with teamwork, trust and co-ordination has pushed me outside my comfort zone.”

To sponsor Mr Coleman go to justgiving.com/|jason-coleman.