All Set For Sahara

8 NOV2010

A Scottish runner has today started a challenge that will take him the length of Britain and beyond as he runs from 'Scotland 2 Sahara' in just 85 days. Dr Andrew Murray hopes to raise £100,000 for the Yamaa Trust, a charity which works to reduce poverty in the South Gobi region of Mongolia. He will run more than 2650 miles, starting today and finishing at the end of January, with no days off.

The 30 year old doctor from Edinburgh began his journey this morning in John o'Groats and his route will take him over the snow topped peaks of the Scottish mountains, before passing France and Spain, reaching extreme heat of up to 45 degrees in the Sahara Desert.

His feat of endurance will take him in to the Guinness Book of World Records, smashing the most miles run in a month record. Andrew has already won ultra marathon races in the Sahara Desert, the Arctic and Gobi Desert and has completed the world's highest marathon at Mount Everest.

Dr Murray said, "I've never taken on this kind of distance before, It's easily the biggest challenge for me. The sheer physical distance will be the really difficult thing, just having to get up every single day and run 32 miles."

His trip will be documented in a one-hour Adventure Show special on the BBC.

Andrew is raising money for the Yamaa Trust as he volunteers with the charity as a medical advisor. To donate to Andrew's challenge, text S2S to 70700. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. For more information on Andrew and his challenge, visit the Scotland to Sahara website.