THE idea of cycling up and down North Brother Mountain for 18 hours straight may sound crazy, but that's exactly what mountain biker Jamie Vogele intends to do on January 17.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Port Macquarie father of four is determined to raise $5000 towards much-needed shade sails for Westport Park's Livvi's Place - and challenging himself to ride the equivalent of Mt Everest seemed the best way to contribute.
The challenge involves completing almost 20 laps of North Brother Mountain, which is 4.7 kilometres to the peak.
"After visiting Livvi's Place with my kids and hearing that funds had not been met to complete the park, we wanted to get involved by completing an Everesting challenge," Mr Vogele explained.
"We'll be starting at 6am on the 17th and will hopefully be finished by midnight.
"I have ridden up North Brother and done plenty of hill training, but the most I've done in one go was seven laps.
"We ride a lot of vertical kilometres for strength gains and a new craze is called Everesting, where you ride a total ascent gain of 8848 metres of repeats on the same hill."
Since initiating the fundraiser, four other cyclists have taken up the challenge including Camden Haven man Ryan Barker, with more expected to jump onboard.
"You can attempt to ride 8848-metre combined elevation (equivalent to Mt Everest) or you can just ride some of it," Mr Vogele said.
North Brother's 500 metre ascent will not only test riders' fitness, but mental agility and strength, with some sections exceeding a 15 per cent gradient.
As reported in the News last month, $20,000 is needed to tick two shade sails off the wish list for the newly-opened playground.
Livvi's Place is the area's first all-inclusive park and was a partnership between Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, national charity Touched by Olivia and Port Macquarie-Hastings and the state government, with support from commercial partners including the Newcastle Permanent Foundation.
People can donate to Mr Vogel's fundraiser by visiting https://portmaclivvisplace.everydayhero.com/au/donations-for-Everesting