KESWICK mountaineer Tim Mosedale will set off on his mega triathlon tonight to raise funds for the children of three Nepalese staff who died at Everest base camp during the earthquake.

Tim, 49, of Leonard Street, has already raised more than £35,000, he is hoping to hit £50,000.

Tim, who also runs a B&B, set himself a 50-day training challenge when he returned from climbing on Everest when disaster struck in April.

He completed the training a few weeks ago and set to work planning an epic route.

He will set off from Keswick at 6pm to cycle the 112-mile Fred Whitton route, which takes in the iconic climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose passes.

He reckons this should take about 10 hours, after which he will swim the length of Derwentwater and back. 

He will then run the 66-mile Bob Graham Round, which he estimates will start at about 9am tomorrow.

The round takes in 42 of the Lake District’s highest peaks in a 27,000ft circuit. Tim is hoping to complete it in 28 hours, returning to Keswick on Sunday afternoon.

He has a team of supporters and pacers to keep him fed, watered and awake!

The gruelling challenge will be filmed by an independent company who will use drones to record Tim in action.

Tim, who is married to Ali, a nurse at Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital, and has two children Grace and Max, said: "I'm nervous, but excited too.

"I really enjoyed the 50-day challenge I set myself, it got me out on days I would not normally have done any exercise, it was a great motivator.

"All the training and planning has kept what happened in Nepal current for me. The whole event has gone off the radar for many people, taking part in this keeps it in my mind, I'm constantly reminded why I'm doing this.

"Other people's hardship has really motivated me."

The money Tim raises will pay for the schooling of children left behind by the three men and will help to care for their grieving families.

Tim made it as far as camp one on the south side of Everest when disaster struck in April. His three Nepalese colleagues were working back at base camp when they were hit by an avalanche.

You can find out more about his challenge on his Everest Expedition Facebook page or his website www.timmosedale.co.uk, through which you can donate.

To track him en route, click here