A regional daily editor has managed to complete the challenge of a lifetime by climbing to Everest Base Camp.

Michael Beard, editor at Brighton daily The Argus, decided to carry out the trek for the paper’s charity appeal, braving temperatures of minus 10 degrees and altitude sickness to reach a height of 5,364m.

He has raised more than £1,600 so far for The Argus Appeal, which aims to relieve sickness, poverty and hardship in the Sussex area and help elderly people and underprivileged children.

Michael, pictured on the trek, was joined by three other intrepid walkers in their climb to the base camp, which took place after months of gruelling training.

After completing the descent from Everest Base Camp, he said he felt “tired, proud and fulfilled”.

Joining Michael on the trek was Phil Frier, the former principal of Brighton’s City College, Clare Rogers, the manager of the Treatment Rooms Spa in Brighton, and Steve Allen, founder of Prime Care Community Services Limited.

On his JustGiving sponsorship page, he wrote: “On November 15,  2012 I shall be joining three other intrepid walkers, who are going to follow in some of the footsteps of the great Sir Edmund HIllary and Sherpa Tenzing.

“We will be endeavouring to trek through the barriers of temperatures reaching minus 10 and altitude levels way above normal.  All this is in the name of raising funds for The Argus Appeal, the charity of which I am proud to be chairman of.

“I believe in being a chairman in deed as well as name and therefore am asking all family, friends, neighbours and readers to support me to raise funds for The Argus Appeal.

“Once the frostbite heals I will be writing about my adventure in The Argus, but for now it’s training and preparing for the biggest adventure of my life.”

He can be sponsored by clicking here.