A total of R271‚752 has already been donated for Darryn August‚ 27‚ a Cape Town man who became paralysed after being thrown off a train by nine thugs just over a week ago.

The crowdfunding campaign called Everest for August has a fundraising target of R350‚000.

August was hit and stabbed multiple times and then thrown from a moving train and hit a tree. He has been hospitalised at Tygerberg hospital and has already undergone a number of operations.

The high school life skills co-ordinator was robbed of his tablet and other possessions during the attack on the train in Somerset West.

Graeme Dale Kuys posted the crowdfunding request‚ saying he was doing an Everest ride to raise funds for August‚ a friend of his.

“We want to raise funds to assist him in his recovery and to show support for his bravery. What better way than to spend 15 hours riding a bicycle up and down a mountain. All are welcome to join in for a picnic or even to do some cycling‚” Kuys said.

Explaining the Everest link‚ Kuys said: “Everesting on a bicycle is doing a single ride with a total elevation gain of 8‚848m. The ride should be done on a single climb and repeated until the height of Everest is reached‚ there is no time limit to the attempt but the Everester/s should not sleep until the total elevation is reached.

“I will be summiting the Steenbras viewpoint climb a total of 36 times to achieve the 8‚848m elevation goal. We ask that you donate a sum of money for the total elevation that I complete.”

Tributes to August accompany the pledges of cash on the BackABuddy website — https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/everest-for-august.

“Bravery such as this needs to be rewarded‚” wrote Miles October while Quintin Wiehahn posted: “Your bravery is admired‚ thank you for standing up against these thugs. You will be eternally rewarded!”

“Hope this money can help in some way‚” said Paul Been.