Neil Hanham has a mountain to climb – and he’ll be doing it in a unique way next month.

The 60-year-old personal trainer will be attempting a ‘Push Up Everest’ challenge from Saturday October 22.

Every day, at 8am, and for 29 days consecutively, he’ll be doing 1,000 push ups for one hour live on Facebook.

The height of Mount Everest is 29,029 feet and, conveniently, one of Neil’s push ups is a foot.

In total he plans to complete 29,029 push ups, raising awareness and funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Neil is a former Head Coach at David Lloyd Ringwood and now owner of fitness studio, Vivofitt.com, in Sopley, pictured left.

He hopes to do the ‘Push Up Everest’ challenge in various locations across Dorset and Hampshire including his studio and Bournemouth beach.

Neil was inspired to mount the challenge by one of his fitness training clients, Dr Sophie Fletcher.

Sophie said: “I used to play hockey for Bournemouth Hockey Club.

“In 2015 I noticed I was not able to run and turn as easily as I had done previously.

“This was a fairly sudden change.

“Following investigations I was diagnosed with MS and started on treatment by the team at University Hospital Southampton.

“Having a diagnosis made me feel I could not exercise and I didn’t do so for two years.

“I started to train with Neil regularly four years ago, including throughout the pandemic.

“Through his personalised approach, I have now got to a point where the strength on my left and right sides are near equal, my exercise tolerance has improved, as has my confidence and hope for the future.

“I am now planning to do snowboarding, slowly, in April 2023.”

Neil, pictured, said: “It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the progress made by Sophie.

“It shows how resistance training can help improve mobility.

“I now want to do my bit in both raising awareness, and funds, for the MS Society.

“I also want to highlight the part fitness can play in all our lives.

“In my late 40s, I was badly out of shape but completely turned my life around.

“If I can do it then others certainly can.”

Neil hopes to raise £1,000 from the ‘Push Up Everest’ challenge.

Click here for his JustGiving page.