It is infamously known as one of the most gruelling high altitude races in the world, but a 43-year-old Cheam man was up to the challenge.

Kieran Maher, of Wickham Avenue, has been a marathon runner for 11 years after his son was born with a rare disability.

The Everest Trail Race in Nepal is a brutal six day trek of 153 km in energy depleting high altitude conditions and Kieran conquered it last week.

He told Sutton Guardian: “My parents are Irish and they thought I was off my rocker. My mum was in church praying and was very worried.

“My dad was incredibly proud and all my family were all over the moon. My sister put it all over Facebook and it was a massive sense of achievement.”

Kieran is an employee of Merlin Entertainments and raised over £3,000 for the company’s charity which provides tickets to disadvantaged and disabled children.

Speaking about some of the lowest moments of the race, Kieran said: “I had three really dark days when I was willing to throw the towel in.

“The hardest parts were the altitude and the terrain. The thing that always keeps me going is my son. He is in a wheelchair and can’t get up and do these things.

“That is my motivation.”

Kieran described the last day of the race as the most amazing thing he has ever done.

“It was emotional to say the least,” he added.

His son, Finn Maher, 11, has a rare mitochondria disability which has a major impact on his energy levels.

Kieran has already planned his next challenge which is a 75km / 24 hours ultra in North Spain. He will be accompanied with an ever present friend and a group of people he met during the Nepal experience.