RYDE Harrier Louise Carver is walking two marathons in the Sahara desert for charity.

Along with four friends, who previosuly raised £3,000 by trekking 66 miles around the Isle of Wight in 24 hours, Louise sets off to Morocco tomorrow (October 10).

They will walk with the UNESCO World Heritage Draa Valley as a dramatic backdrop for the challenge.

The team is raising money for, and awareness of, the Rosemary Foundation, a Petersfield-based charity providing a hospice at home service.

One of the group, Alistair Gibson, was inspired to fundraise after his wife Becky was cared for by the charity in her last few months after a long battle with cancer.

Louise said: "It’s quite daunting. Walking round the Island was a real challenge but this is walking in heat and sand so we have been busy training and getting prepared for it.

"We’ll be walking, maybe even running, across baked rocky trails, through Moroccan villages and palmeries, down to the dunes of the desert.

"It will be tough, it will be hot and probably more than a little uncomfortable, but it really is for a great cause.’

To donate, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlistairGibson4