Gordon Cunningham has focused all of his various fundraising activities around a 14 day trek to Everest Base Camp with the highest point reaching Kala Pattar (5545 m).

The caring fundraiser is urging Renfrewshire businesses for support in his quest to raise funds for Snowdrop and Road to Recovery, two charities close to his heart, The sports therapist and functional training specialist said: “Our challenge ahead is more than just a matter of physical exertion.

“In many ways that now seems like the easier part.

“I am well used to getting fit and pushing clients and myself to new limits.

“The fundraising goals that we have set for ourselves now appear much more daunting.

“However we didn’t build our own reputation by shirking tasks.” In order to help meet his target, Gordon is asking for sponsorship from local businesses and individuals.

Running a fitness class for all capabilities, Gordon donates the proceeds to both charities and is organising a series of fundraising events to help meet the ambitious target.

He said: “I am continually working with clients to help them achieve their own personal goals and challenges, whatever they might be.

“It was against this background that the ‘Everest Basecamp Challenge’ evolved.

“When a client expressed a desire to complete the ultimate trekking adventure this was the catalyst for a series of events in which serendipity played a large part.

“This also offered the perfect opportunity for all of us to use this particular challenge as a means of helping raise as much money as possible for charity.

“To this end, from now until the middle of June of this year, we shall be holding a number of events and mini-challenges to help raise money to support two amazing and life changing charities.” This trek will take place in May of this year and all money raised will be split between the two worthy causes.

The first of Gordon’s chosen charities is Snowdrop, which provides neuroscience-based programmes of developmental stimulation for children with developmental disabilities.

These include cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD and many more conditions.

Programmes are designed to stimulate brain plasticity and enable children to develop abilities they otherwise would not.

Gordon said: “My neighbour’s son Finn receives treatment sessions from Snowdrop. “Finn was born with Hydrocephalus (excess fluid around the brain) and is unable to control his head or move his limbs freely. “He has also been diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder for which there is no known cure.

“The neurologists labelled this as an eye, brain and muscle disorder and were unable to offer any further assistance leaving his parents simply to get on with things and try and help Finn the best that they could. “After a vast amount of research, they discovered Andrew at Snowdrop. “Thanks to some phenomenal work, Snowdrop has helped give Finn the power of expression some communication. “I am doing this to help raise awareness for Snowdrop and the work that they do, so that other parents elsewhere can find their way to this invaluable assistance much sooner.

“This represents an effort on our part to try and find some means of repaying them for all of their unstinted work in some small way though it could never be enough.

“The work they do is nothing short of life changing for the individuals involved and most importantly the information, guidance and reassurance they provide to parents in bringing up their children.

“The money will help support Andrew purchase new sensory equipment and possibly train another individual to carry out treatment sessions.” The second charity, Road To Recovery, is run by a Christian charity, The Epaphras Trust, and is based in the city centre of Glasgow.

The Trust provides personalised and intensive help and support for people caught up in drug and alcohol addiction and specific support for homeless individuals.

Gordon said: “Road to Recovery helps try to solve a problem that blights society and unfortunately can be found in the West of Scotland; those suffering from alcohol and drug dependency issues and homelessness.

“I attended a night at the Tron church for people suffering from the debilitating effects of the above issues.

“The response they received from those responsible for administering the programme was both empathetic and impactful.

“As the name would suggest the charity tries to offer these unfortunate individuals understanding, help in gaining control of their lives and a starting point to a journey back into society. “The host of the event Terry, also a recovered drug addict, helps drive the nights and can relate to the emotions and hurt that the individuals feel on a daily basis. “This is a problem that needs to be addressed and requires further awareness and support to reach out to and assist many more people in this situation. “Drug and alcohol related issues affect people from all walks of life.

“On the night I attended the age group and backgrounds of the people involved appeared to vary from young teenagers up to older, very well educated people that had been dealt a bad card perhaps, been made redundant and to feel worthless, turned to drink or drugs to blot out the pain and subsequently lost everything in the process.

“The money raised will help Road to Recovery to continue providing these services for people in need and widen their reach.”