WITH freezing temperatures at night, sweltering heat in the day and the occasional snake and scorpion, it’s no surprise a Colchester couple who plan to trek the Sahara have a few fears.

Louise Gilmour, 27, and boyfriend Dale Plant, 28, are taking on a series of charity runs and even organising a raffle in the hope of raising £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

By far their biggest challenge will be a 100km trek of the Sahara Desert they have planned in October.

The charity trek will see the intrepid pair walk through the desert in 40 degree heat for ten days.

Miss Gilmour, a financial consultant, said: “I am pretty scared about the scorpions, but there is no point asking people for money unless we are doing something that is really going to be a challenge.”

The couple are doing a series of charity runs in the UK in the lead-up to the trek, including a five-mile run in Braintree, on March 27.

When they reach £2,500, Mr Plant has promised to wear a kilt and Miss Gilmour, from Scotland, said she will wear an England football shirt.

The pair will be following in the footsteps of a host of celebrities, including TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who have signed up to trek the Sahara for Comic Relief.

The couple are looking for businesses to donate raffle prizes and offer a venue for an event later in the year.

Anyone who can help can e-mail them on dalelouise100kcharitytrek@ hotmail.co.uk Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/DaleandLouises100ktrek