T-2 days: Veterans Minister embarking on record-breaking London to Everest challenge

From London to Everest Base Camp, to the summit, and back again – in just seven days.

In two days, the Veterans Minister, a former Royal Marines colonel, Alistair "Al" Carns, will begin Mission Everest.

Joined by a team of ex-Special Forces soldiers, Mr Carns is taking on this record-breaking challenge to raise £1 million in support of Armed Forces and veterans' charities.

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Recently retired Royal Marines Colonel Alistair Carns appointed Veterans Minister

To prepare, the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak has been doing high-altitude tests – walking without oxygen at 8000m.

Traditionally, there's an eight to nine-week acclimatisation period, but the team has been using hypoxic tents to simulate high-altitude conditions, allowing their bodies to adapt to lower oxygen levels before the climb.

Mr Carns said in his post on X that he "felt a little dizzy on completion, but oxygen in my blood didn't go below 70SPo2 (at sea level it's at 98)".

"The long, hard effort of pre-acclimatising is paying off thus far."

His post continued: "We will have a live track so you can follow our progress. Watch this space for details. All money raised goes to support British veterans and their families.

"Proud to be British! Proud to be part of the UK Armed Forces community. Onwards… and up."

Mr Carns and his team plan to reach Everest Base Camp in roughly a day-and-a-half and then climb to the summit in about three days. The remaining four days will then be used to return to the UK.

Real-time tracking is available during their ascent, and they are actively fundraising through a crowdfunding campaign.

The team also plans to use specialised suits from ThruDark, and medical support involving Xenon gas to mitigate risks like cerebral oedema.