A BLACKBURN bingo fanatic is in training to play the world’s highest game of bingo on Mount Everest.

Mark Simm, manager of Gala Bingo Blackburn, will tackle the world’s highest mountain, dabber in hand, in an attempt to smash the record for the World’s Highest Game of Bingo – and raise £100,000 for charity.

Mark will be joined by 24 dedicated bingo fans facing the risk of dehydration, altitude sickness and deep vein thrombosis as they take part in the pilgrimage to Everest’s Base Camp, to raise funds for hospice charity Sue Ryder Care.

Mark and his team mates, all Gala Coral staff from around the UK, have been taking part in gruelling training sessions preparing for the rigours of playing bingo at 17,500 ft.

As well as long-distance running and hill walking, Mark has been familiarising himself with playing bingo at high altitude by calling and dabbing atop the 400ft St John’s Beacon Observation Tower, in Liverpool.

The 41-year-old, who lives in Wigan, said: “It seems a bit daft, but if we’re going to do this challenge properly we need to be prepared so, apart from the high altitude bingo practice, I’ve also been playing double-speed bingo games to keep my mental faculties sharp because at 17,500ft, your thinking really slows down.

“This trek is a once-in-a- lifetime challenge for me and what keeps me going is the thought of standing on Base Camp, dabber in my hand, knowing that I’ll be raising vital funds for Sue Ryder Care. I hope we can do them proud.”

Simon Longbottom, managing director of Gala Bingo, said: “I am incredibly proud of Mark and the team who have volunteered for this challenge. I’m even prouder that we’ll be raising money for the excellent work of our nominated charity, Sue Ryder Care.”

The trek will begin at Lukla on October 19 and finish at Everest Base Camp on October 24.

To make a donation visit http://www.galacoraleveresttrek.co.uk