AN electrician is gearing up to take on one of the world’s toughest challenges in a bid to raise a mountainous amount of cash for a Poole charity.

Dennis Coyne, 31, who moved to Canford Cliffs from East London earlier this year, is taking part in a 12-day trek, covering 75 miles, to Mount Everest base camp in November.

He said he wanted to do it to help Julia’s House children’s hospice in an effort to get involved with his new community.

Dennis is embarking on the trek with a friend from London, Terry Lowe, who is ex-armed forces and is currently working in Iraq.

Both will raise cash for Julia’s House and Dennis hopes to drum up £20,000.

As well as asking for sponsorship he is also doing electrical work in his spare time in return for donations.

He said: “I’ve always believed it’s nice to be nice, so I’m doing it to raise what I can to help.

“I’m an electrician by trade and I work nine to five for a company – but when I finish I do electrical work in exchange for donations.”

Dennis said that recent news of 16 Sherpas dying in an avalanche on Everest had worried him, but it would not put him off.

“We were told that it’s one of the most difficult challenges that you can do, so that was the main reason.

“Hopefully with something so difficult I can raise as much money for charity as possible,” he said.

Find out more at justgiving.com/denniscoyne or phone Dennis on 07747 653389.