Stevie will hit the heights for charity
Marathon man will take on Mount Everest
Marathon man Stevie Kidd is reaching for the skies – as he is taking on the highest marathon in the world.
Proud Buddie Steve, 46, will be pushing himself through the pain barrier when he runs the Everest Marathon this November.
The Glenburn dad will traverse icy mountain trails during the high-altitude course, which starts at 17,000 feet at Gorak Shep, next to Everest base camp, and finishes at Namche Bazaar at 11,300 feet in Nepal.
His Himalayan adventure begins on November 8 and takes him through to December 5, because there is a three- week acclimatisation programme in preparation for the race.
Stevie, a self-employed business coach, is taking on the ultimate challenge to raise vital cash for military heroes Combat Stress, his latest charity partner.
He has raised £ 3,500 for Renfrewshire group Finding Your Feet, which helps people coping with the loss of limbs, and he made £ 3,000 for Make A Wish, which supports terminally ill children.
He said: “This is highest marathon in the world. Some say it is the toughest too.
“It will certainly be the hardest one I have faced, but I am so looking forward to it.
“The challenge is there, that is why I am doing it.
“I know I have set myself some really high goals, but I believe I have the capacity to succeed.
“And as long as you believe in yourself, then anything is possible.
“You have to prepare, work hard and follow the plan right to the last detail.
“I am running the Everest Marathon 2017 on behalf of a wonderful military charity called Combat Stress.
“This group works with army, navy and airforce personnel who have suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anything I am doing pales into insignificance when compared to what these people are going through.”
Stevie, who was a non-runner until three years ago, has already racked up a string of amazing achievements.
He recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, then ran the Kilimanjaro Marathon directly after his ascent.
He also successfully completed the Great Wall Marathon in China, seen by many runners as the third hardest marathon in the world.
The proud husband to Lesley, 49, and doting dad to son Ryan, 15, also completed four gruelling runs at Christmas in the USA when he did a 5k, 10k, half- marathon and the full Disney Marathon in Florida.
He added he has been keeping up his punishing training schedule, exercising 20 hours a week, as well as working with his coach, as he prepares for the Stirling Marathon later this month, then heads south for Liverpool Marathon the following week.
But that is not all, as he is gearing up for the burning desert trek across the Sahara Desert, the Marathon Des Sables, early next year, once he has conquered Everest.
Stevie, who is on a five- year mission to tackle the world’s toughest race events before he turns 50, added: “Some people think I am crazy, but I need to set myself the toughest of challenges.
“It will be brilliant to stand at the end of Everest Marathon waving my flag.”