Scaling Africa's highest mountain is no laughing matter - except that for Harish Chavda, it is.
The 53 year old is to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania during a tough seven-day trek to raise money for Diabetes UK.
And to help him train for the adventure, the IT consultant from Rayners Lane, South Harrow, is relying on a technique he teaches: laughing yoga.
Guffawing, chortling, giggling - whatever you call it, Mr Chavda said the breathing techniques it promotes help draw oxygen down into cells to aid stamina - especially at altitude - and the endorphins released by chuckling improve mental well-being.
Mr Chavda, a married father of three, said: "I started training about four months ago by walking. I'm doing a lot of exercise but I'm a strong believer in the benefits of breathing and laughing yoga.
"It gives me energy and also most of the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is getting in the right mental state.
"Doctors have done research and it's not mumbo-jumbo, it's proven."
Ugandan-born Mr Chavda has run his unusual Harrow Laughing Club for a year. He learned to teach the exercises at a Spanish seminar run by Indian physician Dr Madan Kataria, who invented the concept in India in 1995.
He said: "We start with 10 minutes of education then we get through 20 different exercises, like laughing 'ho ho' and 'ha ha'.
"Then we laugh as a group. We begin by pretending to laugh as though you're on a mobile phone. One person laughs and then everyone else starts to laugh too, it's contagious.
"We laugh for 30 minutes and then there's a cool down.
"As part of my laughter group I teach people how to laugh on their own. There's a technique using a mirror.
"At times when I get stressed I use the technique."
Mr Chavda, who chose to raise cash for Diabetes UK because family members have the condition, starts his ascent of the 19,340ft peak along with 29 others on October 10.
He said: "I want to raise money for charity and I've always wanted to do this event."
Harrow Laughter Club costs £2 per session and is held between 2pm and 3.30pm at Harrow Quakers Meeting Hall in Rayners Lane, South Harrow, on the first Saturday of each month.
