Steve's festive climb up Everest

Rather than spending the holiday around the festive tree, married father-of-three Steve will be raising money for charity thousands of miles away on the world’s highest peak.

Teacher Steve (45), who set up the “yellowfellow” charity website, sets off today on an expedition across the Himalayas that will pass through the Everest base camp.

Steve, from Thorpe Hesley, overcame a close call when he thought he might have to pull out with a suspected stress fracture of his foot, but it turned out to be an injured tendon, so the trip was still on.

The event will involve a small team of fellow teachers trekking to just under 6,000 metres on Everest.

During the trip, which lasts until January, Steve will attempt to ascend the nearby Kalar Patthar mountain.

He said: “The charities I am representing are Cancer Research at Weston Park Hospital Sheffield and Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

“I have been training very hard and feel I am in good shape to complete successfully.”

Steve is linking the expedition to education by actively involving the students from Wentworth Church Of England Junior and Infant School Rotherham and Limpsfield Junior School, Wincobank.