Oliver Chambers will be running the height of Everest (8,848 metres) up and down Cronk-ny-Arrey Laa, a hill in the south of the island.

The fell runner from Port Erin will be undertaking the challenge, which will amount to the distance of just under two marathons, to raise money for local mental health charity Isle Listen.

Oliver has chosen a route of 1.17 miles up the hill, and will need to run up and down this 22 times to complete the total of 51.7 miles - equivalent to an elevation climb of 8,848 metres.

Rough and rocky, the path has an average gradient of 20.5%.

He has chosen next Saturday (January 29) for the run, which is his 26th birthday.

Oliver told the Manx Independent he is being trained by Orran Smith, one of the island’s leading fell runners, who he says has great experience in the island’s hills and of these types of ’ultra-distance runs’.

The longest run Oliver had done prior to this was 42 miles (67.6km), which took him nine hours and 50 minutes, and which was also done for charity. He had intended to run even further, but was struck by knee pain 10 miles in and decided to stop as it got worse.

For this ’Everesting’ challenge, he was initially anticipating a running time of 13/14 hours, but now thinks it may take more like 16 to 18 hours.

He told us that while he was confident about being able to go the distance and tackle the uphill climbs, ’the bit that does worry me is the downhill, as that can really punish the legs’.

’Having read about other people who have tried this, it seems to be the downhill running that causes problems for people, so I’m going to have to be a bit careful with that,’ he said.

Oliver first got into running at the beginning of 2020 before the pandemic, and later went on to become involved with Manx Fell Runners.

Asked why he chose Isle Listen, he said there were two reasons.

’Firstly, because I believe in what they’re doing. So far, they have done amazing work and helped an awful lot of people and I want to see them continue that work.’

’Secondly, both my mum and sister are involved in the charity, and I’m incredibly proud of what they do. Most people won’t be aware that Isle Listen was a different charity before it took on that name and its current remit.

’For years, it was a really small charity made up of a handful of really amazing staff, most of whom are still with the organisation.’

Asked about the mental health benefits of running, Oliver said that it had been of help to him when he had been struggling during his later years in secondary school and university.

And having previously played football for the social aspect, he pointed to the benefits of running clubs too. Oliver also said he wanted to thank Island Escapes for sponsoring him.

People can donate to his fundraiser at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oliver-chambers2