THE sky's the limit for a Sandown climber who is setting his sights on the world's highest mountain.

Lindon Heaven, 47, begins the adventure of a lifetime today (Friday) when he flies out to Nepal to start an 18 day adventure by climbing the 5,500 metre mountain, Kala Patthar.

He will then make his way to Everest's base camp at a height of around 5,000 metres.

Lindon, of Copse End, works as a head gardener, and began climbing three years ago.

He has Asperger's Syndrome and believes the intense concentration required to climb safely has a calming effect on his condition.

He said: "I was in Thailand and a friend of mine out there got in touch and we went climbing. I have Asperger's and I was looking for something that could keep me focused. It is brilliant for me because it requires concentration and quietens my mind."

During his climbs in Nepal, Lindon will have to endure bone chilling temperatures of up to 20 degrees C below freezing.

He is a member of a mainland climbing club but will be undertaking his latest adventure with strangers, courtesy of 360 Expeditions based in London.

He said: "The challenge is going to be more mental than physical. It will be the isolation and having to deal with the fact you are in the middle of nowhere."

Lindon is raising funds for the RSPCA IW branch to help with its upgrades and repairs to the animal rehoming centre at Bohemia Corner, Godshill.

His adventure can be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lindonheaveneverest

Any donations can be made in any of the RSPCA shops across the Island or online at https://mydonate.bt/fundraisers/lindonheaveneverest