Littlehampton walkers prepare for charity desert trek

Six months from now they will be trekking across one of the driest places on earth, with the aim of providing water for some of the planet’s poorest communities.

Each of the 30 taking part in the five-day expedition across the Sahara Desert has to raise £2,500 for the privilege and together they will raise tens of thousands for the charity Water Aid.

The team includes staff from The Body Shop headquarters at Littlehampton and from some stores, as well as staff and volunteers from the company’s charitable wing, The Body Shop Foundation, which has helped to organise the trip with the organisation Charity Challenge.

For Adelle Scott, the foundation’s communications and fund-raising manager, it could hardly be a tougher task. “I’ve not done anything like this before. I’m not keen on heat, I don’t like sand and I don’t like walking, so it’s the ultimate challenge for me.

“But what drives you on is knowing that for us, it’s easy to to to a tap, but there are people in other communities who have to walk for days to get water.”

Adelle, from Findon, has been training by taking her dogs for walks up nearby Cissbury Ring, while turning 40 this year has been another spur to her to lead a fitter, healthier life.

Among those joining her will be Teresa Waller, PA to Body Shop values and research and development director Paul McGreevy, who is also taking up the challenge.

Teresa admitted: “I’m trying not to think about the heat. But I think we are most worried about the scorpions and the toilet facilities.

“Thankfully, we are doing it with a back-up team who know what they are doing, so I think I can cope.”

At least the walkers won’t have to carry their bags – they are being transported on camels between each overnight stop.

Now the recruitment process for the challenge has ended and the team is finalised, all that remains is the big task of raising the money, through various efforts including car boot and other fund-raising sales and a giant Winter Fair at The Trading Post, next to The Body Shop headquarters, later this year.