Former Kiwi cricketer Parore scales Everest

Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Parore became the first cricketer to reach the summit of Mount Everest when he scaled the world's highest peak on May 21 along with a team of Sherpas from Nepal.

The 40-year-old, who played 78 Tests and 179 one-day internationals, hopes to raise US $100,000 for his 'Make A Wish Foundation.

"The money collected from the venture will go into the pool that would grant wishes of the terminally ill children," he wrote on Facebook, which he regularly updated on his position at various camps and the difficulties faced by the team of three guides, 10 Sherpas and seven other climbers who accompanied him to the summit, which he reached on his second attempt after previously being forced back by bad weather.

"All up a 16-hour day --- Sherpa-esque. 1000m up, 2000m down and about 15km covered all up. 100 calories intake, about 20,000 expended. I was a bit tired after that. Unsurprisingly I slept like a dead man. Strangely I woke yesterday morning feeling 100 per cent, like I normally do at sea level. Go figure? I feel better now than before we left for the summit," he wrote before making the second attempt to reach the top.

Parore was expected to make the final assault on May 14 but had to return to the camp as winds were blowing over 60 kilometers an hour.