Colin Woods, manager of The Spring Tavern on London Road, has sweated through a 100km charity trek across the Sahara desert to raise almost £3,000 for charity.

Colin undertook the gruelling mission to cover one of the toughest terrains in the world, trekking for eight hours every day in oppressive 40 degree heat, to support the Help a London Child campaign.

It all started when Colin took part in a sponsored 10km run last year and was handed a flyer about an organised trip to the Sahara.

He said: “I’d really got into the training and fundraising for the run and when I was given this flyer I thought it sounded amazing – a real once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I knew it was going to be tough but once I got started it was clear this was going to be the most difficult challenge I had ever set myself. But the pain was all worth it because I got to see some breathtaking sights in the Sahara and met a fantastic group of people that have all shared this incredible experience.

“More importantly, that victory beer after crossing the finish line was the best I’ve ever tasted and made it all worth it!”

But the Sahara trip is just the start of his trekking ambitions. He has already registered from a trek along the Great Wall of China next year.

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