THE man dubbed ''the world's greatest living explorer" will be offering a personal journey through his extraordinary life when he visits Poole next month.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes will cover everything from birth to the present day in Mind Over Matter at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts on July 18.

From light-hearted to strikingly poignant, Mind Over Matter covers Sir Ranulph’s childhood, misdemeanours at school, army life and early expeditions, right through the Transglobe Expedition, and his current Global Reach Challenge.

This latest adventure, in aid of Marie Curie, will see him attempt to conquer Denali, the highest peak in North America, after scaling Mount Carstensz in New Guinea, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and Aconcagua in Argentina.

Sir Ranulph already has Everest under his belt, climbing the world's tallest peak at the third attempt, in 2009.

He reached the North and South Poles in 1982, circumnavigating the globe from pole to pole in a three-year, 35,000-mile (56,327km) trek that made him the first man to reach both poles by surface means.

He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya in 2004 and Mount Elbrus in Russia in June, Marie Curie said.

Sir Ranulph's expeditions have taken their toll. He lost the fingers on his left hand to frostbite during a polar expedition in 2000.

He has also suffered two heart attacks and underwent a double heart bypass in 2003.

Two years ago he needed medical attention after running for 30 hours in more than 50C (122F) heat at the Marathon des Sables in Morocco.

Dr Jane Collins, chief executive of Marie Curie, said: "Sir Ranulph has an unfailing commitment to raise money for Marie Curie and he is quite literally going to the ends of the Earth and back to do so. His determination and ability to push himself to his limits is truly inspiring."

Frederik van Tuyll, chief executive of TMF Group, which is sponsoring the challenge, said: "Sir Ranulph Fiennes is the world's greatest living explorer. He has inspired many for generations with his perseverance and dedication, and has pushed himself to the extreme to complete some of the world's most gruelling and difficult challenges."

Mind Over Matter includes the record breaking and immensely challenging projects which saw Sir Ranulph receive the Guinness Book of Records accolade as ‘Greatest Living Explorer’ - while suffering frostbite and risking life and limb in some of the most ambitious private expeditions ever undertaken.

Speakers From the Edge presents Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Mind Over Matter on Tuesday, July 18 at 7.30pm (Theatre)

Tickets: £19. To book tickets or for more information, call 01202 280000 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk