Medical medical doctor Gregory Attard left Malta today for Kathmandu at the start of the Challenge 8000 mission which will see three Maltese attempt to become the first Maltese to conquer Mt Everest.

He will be joined in the coming days by Marco Cremona, who saw him off at the airport, and Robert Gatt. The three hope to reach the summit of Mt Everest, at 8,850 metres on May 14 after periods of acclimatisation.

The trio have been following an intense training regime. Their preparations saw them climbing Mt Cho Oyu last year to place the Maltese flag on the world's sixth highest peak at a temperature of minus 29 degrees.

Assisting them on the Everest climb will be world famous climber Victor Saunders and a local Sherpa who has climbed the mountain 13 times - once every year since he turned 20.

The climbers have been assisted by Bank of Valletta and Duracell.