SUPER fit grandad Derek Fisher faces one of the peaks of his walking career - a trip to Everest.

Dr Fisher, 69, of Newport, will be joining an arduous trek that takes in Everest base camp and its surrounding peaks.

The ironman ex-headteacher has finished 24 marathons and last year climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at over 20,000 feet. He said: "I'm looking forward to visiting Nepal and understand that the people are very hospitable.

"I'm especially excited about the stunning views of Everest and the surrounding peaks.

"I'm spending the summer in the Lake District training and will be going out most days for walks.

"We'll be climbing around 3,000 feet a day and trekking for six or seven hours.

"It'll be physically exhausting and anything over 14,000 leaves you open to altitude sickness. But provided I do the training I'll be able to cope." Dr Fisher, of Allt-Yr-Yn, was the headteacher of Bettws High from 1976-85 and of King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny from 1985-95. In November Dr Fisher will join 39 others on a 16-day trek in the Everest region.

They will visit Everest base camp and, although they will not tackle the world's highest mountain, they plan to scale a peak called Kala Pattar, which lies at 18,188 feet.

The trek is a fundraiser for cerebral palsy charity Scope and Dr Fisher aims to raise £3,500.

He said: "I'm pleased with the way fundraising is going and I've managed to secure over £2,000 so far."

Dr Fisher is also a masseuse and complementary therapist and has pledged to donate his fees from any sessions to Scope.

Major sponsors of Dr Fisher include Express Garage Doors, Wildings department store and Dorrell-Oliver Accountants.

To contact Dr Fisher telephone him on 01633 211 316 to sponsor him or to book an appointment. Donations can be sent to 8 High Croft Road, Newport.