Vet nurse on desert trek for homeless pet charity

Sarah Dawson and a team of 20 fundraisers walked 100km (62 miles) across the Sahara Desert

A veterinary nurse has helped raise nearly £27,000 by trekking in the Sahara Desert.

Sarah Dawson, of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, joined a group of 20 people to endure blistering conditions during the 100km (62 miles) journey on foot over four days.

The funds will be donated to StreetVet, a charity which helps people experiencing homelessness and provides free veterinary care for their pets.

“People’s generosity has been unbelievable, we’re all really proud of how much we’ve raised,” the 38-year-old told BBC CWR.

Sarah Dawson said the landscape "changed by the hour" as they covered sand dunes, rock fields and old lake beds

The group set off on 3 November on the challenge which took place a 10-hour drive away from Marrakesh in Morocco.

Mrs Dawson recalled: “It was extremely difficult, fitness-wise, the temperatures were gruelling, it doesn’t matter what your fitness levels are, the heat, the massive sand dunes and the things you encounter - nothing can prepare you for that.

“It was one extremity to the other, there were days when we’d walk for five hours and there would be no shade.”

The team has exceeded it fundraising expectations, with nearly £27,000 donated so far

The challenge was scheduled to take place over five days but due to extreme heat, the fundraisers extended their walking time to complete the trek in just four days.

“It was difficult but we all tried to spur each other on, keep momentum up and encourage each other - they got me through the hard days," Mrs Dawson said.

“The landscape changes by the hour, you can walk up 500 metre sand dunes, then you can suddenly be in a rock field or an old lake bed.

"There were lots of fossils to look at on the way then you could be in a mini oasis with palm trees as far as you could see with wild camels - it was unreal”

So far, the team has raised £26,965.