An intrepid fundraiser braved freezing conditions to reach Everest Base Camp in aid of a children's hospice charity.
Raza Anjum, from Saffron Walden, took on the 80-mile expedition up the world's highest mountain, and has so far raised £1,000 for East Anglian Children's Hospices (EACH).
After flying to the Himalayas on December 22, Raza returned home from his epic challenge on January 7.
He said: "It was quite an experience – incredibly scenic and beautiful but also extremely tough, physically and mentally.
"We were climbing and high-altitude trekking for eight or nine hours a day, starting very early in the morning and sometimes as early as 4am. They were long days and everything blurred into one.
"It was a beautiful, rewarding feeling getting to the top, but I was exhausted.
"The high altitude was the hardest thing, as were the incredibly cold winter conditions. The temperature plummeted to around -25C .
"However, I blocked out the possibility of not being able to complete the challenge.
"The fact I was doing it for charity helped and motivated me and definitely gave me an extra spur. I knew I had to do it."
Raza, who works as a lawyer in London, trained for several months to prepare for his mission.
He previously climbed to the K2 Base Camp in August last year - the second highest mountain on earth - raising almost £3,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He has also climbed the highest mountains in Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland.
"My previous expeditions had given me a bit of a steer, in terms of what to expect," Raza said.
"You have to programme your mind and I took medicine to help with the rapid ascent to high altitudes and to help combat severe symptoms of acute mountain sickness, because there’s half the oxygen compared to sea level.
"However, a side effect of the medicine is headaches, fatigue, nausea, numbness and tingling in the fingers, toes and face, so it’s far from perfect.
"Despite the many challenges, it was an incredibly rewarding experience.
"An experience like this removes you entirely from everyday life back home.
"It’s so different and I like testing my mind and body, to see how far I can go."
Raza is still accepting donations at https://www.justgiving.com/page/raza-anjum-1703170288186.
All money raised will go towards EACH's work supporting children and young people with life-threatening conditions and their families across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
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Explaining why he chose to support the charity, Raza said: "I have doctors in my family, so have always been aware of the importance of medical care.
"I’ve also been reading lots about EACH, in terms of fundraisers and the things people do to support it.
"It does an incredible job supporting families through very difficult times and is such an important charity - one I’m delighted to support.
"Hopefully something like this generates ideas and inspires others to raise funds.
"Obviously my challenge was a bit extreme but there are lots of great hiking and trekking opportunities in the UK, too."
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