Former Gunnedah man Stephen Grosser will push his body to the limits when he climbs to Mount Everest base camp for cancer research.
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Mr Grosser and his team of 12 are hoping to raise $500,000 for Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation through their nine-day expedition from September 28 to October 13.
The ex-local has been touched by cancer, losing his uncle Trevor Martin in 2017 and his mother, Fran, 12 years ago. Fran features in Ron McLean's book, The Final Curtain.
Mr Grosser said some of his mates asked him to do the Kokoda Trail with them a few years ago because they lost a friend to cancer "but I couldn't get myself organised enough to do it".
The Mount Everest climbers - dubbed the Wish You Were Here team - have been in training for some months to become accustomed to high altitude and steep ascents, embarking on a number of expeditions to the Blue Mountains.
"Most weekends we're doing six flights of stairs 10 times, so equivalent to 60 flights of stairs. We're trying to knock that over in 30-40 minute period," Mr Grosser said.
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Mr Grosser said the most difficult challenge of the 120km hike would be the change in altitude.
"The highest point we'll get to it about 5540m above sea level," he said.
"The main thing with the training is not so much endurance training as people think; it's getting your heart rate up to extreme levels quickly because altitude affects everyone differently.
"You can be as fit as anything but struggle to breathe. The most important thing is to get your breathing under control."
The team has been using training altitude masks and Mr Grosser said "the first time around setting it to a high level felt like we couldn't breathe".
On Tuesday, the team trained at Peak Altitude Fitness for the first time where there are "rooms where they suck oxygen out".
"We got a taste of what 3400m above sea level was like. Taking your breath away is an understatement," Mr Grosser said.
"We all did pretty well for our first go at it."
In November, Mr Grosser's team will host a "huge" gala dinner at Luna Park to boost funds for the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.
To donate to the cause, visit https://wishyouwerehere2019.gofundraise.com.au/cms/trek
