A FORMER Alcester Grammar School student is readying himself for a trek across the largest ice cap in Europe.

Jonathan Carrivick plans to ski 100km across the Vatnajkull ice cap in Iceland to raise money for The Royal Marsden Hospital Charity.

Mr Carrivick is now studying for a PhD in glacier outburst flood impacts at Keele University and will be trekking with leader Hugh Deeming, of Staffordshire University, and Matt Roberts, of the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

The expedition will take place in early June and is planned to take about 10 days but group members say they will be taking food for 20 days.

The ice cap contains a greater volume of ice than all other Icelandic ice caps and Scandinavian and Alpine glaciers put together.

The men will cross a hazardous route, which includes crevasses, hydrothermal vents emitting volcanic fumes and hurricane winds - not to mention carrying supplies and equipment weighing about 100lbs.

But the men will be risking all for a good cause. The hospital in London is the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe and the second largest in the world.

It continues to strive for excellence in cancer care and is committed to a better future for those whose lives have been touched by cancer.

The team is now appealing for sponsorship for charity and financial backing so the intrepid trio can mount the expedition.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can contact Mr Carrivick at joncarrivick@hotmail.com