BROTHERS Dave and Garry Hall are reaching for the sky.

For the adventurous duo are planning to be the first brothers from the North West to scale Mt Everest, the world's highest peak at 29,028 feet.

The brothers know they have set themselves an enormous task and, during the next two years, will be taking part in a gruelling training programme and seeking sponsorship for the expedition.

Both men were in the Forces. Garry, a former army instructor, completed 13 years and served in the Falklands, while Dave was in the Parachute Regiment and the French Foreign Legion.

Their plans for the next few years are to conquer as many mountains as they can, starting with Ben Nevis and then going on to Mt Blanc in Switzerland for ice-climbing experience, hopefully before Christmas.

Next year they plan to tackle Mt Elbrus in Russia, Europe's highest mountain, before taking on Aconcagua in South America.

Both men were born in Manchester but Dave, 28, now lives in Blackrod, and Garry, 32, in Westhoughton.

Dave is an ex-professional boxer and trains extensively every day, including weight training and regular runs up Rivington Pike.

Earlier this month Garry did a sponsored climb of Ben Nevis to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis.

The brothers have not yet made preparations for the Everest climb and are still debating which route to take.

Dave said: "We are both still thinking over whether to do the climb with a group or on our own, which would be a great challenge for both us and Great Britain."

Apart from seeking sponsorship for the climb, the brothers are hoping to raise cash for Cystic Fibrosis Trust, British Heart Foundation, British Association of Cancer United Patients, and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

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