A SWINDON soldier hoping to climb Everest for charity has sent his first dispatch from Nepal.

Captain Francis Atkinson and the Walking With The Wounded team are trekking to Everest base camp from where they hope to scale the mountain on the day of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The 31-year-old Army doctor, who suffered a gunshot wound to his right upper arm while serving in Afghanistan, is raising money for other wounded servicemen.

And in the first entry of his online progress log, he described the team’s struggles to find crampons big enough for team member Captain David ‘Wisey’ Wiseman.

“Finding crampons for Wisey’s enormous feet has been extremely difficult. Of course the average Nepalese person has tiny feet,” he said.

“We have been searching Kathmandu high and low trying to find some.”

Luckily for Cpt Wiseman the team managed to track down some big enough to go with the extreme mountaineering gear they will need, including full body suits, ice axes and heavy-duty boots.

The group enjoyed their last day in Kathmandu on Friday, lounging in saunas and relaxing by the pool before flying to base camp, Lukla, the following day.

“Morale is extremely high. We are really prepared for the challenge ahead of us,” said Cpt Atkinson.

Yesterday, the fourth day of a 10-day trek to the base camp, the team used a rest day to take in some of the dramatic scenery in the Himalayas.

Although the peak of the highest mountain in the world was covered by clouds, they used the opportunity to reflect on the enormity of their challenge during a short walk from their lodge in Khumjung to a memorial to Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Everest in 1953.

There has already been drama on the trip following an unfortunate incident on the flight to Nepal when the doctor was called to help a woman who had fainted. He responded to an intercom call and was able to help the 22-year-old, whose malaria tablets hadn’t agreed with her.

Capt Atkinson suffered a gunshot wound to his right upper arm while serving as a doctor in Afghanistan, which caused nerve damage so his right hand does not work properly.

The Walking With The Wounded team includes Captain David Wiseman, Private Jaco van Gass, former Private Karl Hinett and former Captain Martin Hewitt.

Over their expedition, the team will brave frostbite and hypothermia as well as treacherous crevasses, narrow ridges and vertical cliffs as they seek to scale Everest’s 8,848m peak.

Follow their progress at walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/ everest2012.