Desert double for hospice

A fundraiser who took part in a gruelling ten-day charity trek across the Sahara said it was an amazing experience.

Mrs Sue Lowe, a fundraiser with Beaumond House Community Hospice for ten years, joined more than 20 others for the trek across the Moroccan desert as part of Beaumond House’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

It followed a similar trek in February, jointly organised by the Advertiser, that raised more than £75,000.

The trekkers endured temperatures up to 38 degrees during the day and freezing cold at night, but Mrs Lowe said there were no major difficulties along the way.

“Nothing quite prepares you for sand dunes and everyone found their own way of getting on,” she said.

“Obviously they were quite taxing to start with but the more you climb, the easier they become.”

She said the toughest part of the walk was climbing a 1000ft dune.

“It was a real test of everyone’s stamina, but everyone did it,” said Mrs Lowe.

“We got to the top of the sand dune in the early evening and could see the sunset from up there. That was a lovely experience.

“We sat quietly and thought about our families, what we were doing and who we were doing it for.

“We were all there for the same thing. Everybody got different things out of it. It was a wonderful thing to do.”

Mrs Lowe said the trek had encouraged many to carry on fundraising.

The trekkers are still raising money and the total will be announced in January and a grand total from both treks the following month.