So long Sahara

Marketing co-ordinator Janice Harvey has returned from a 100km trek across the Sahara Desert having raised over £3,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance fund, thanks to ITPS donating £1,500 towards her fund. Despite many of the trekkers suffering heat and exhaustion, Janice returned full of enthusiasm:  “It was an amazing experience, I’d recommend it to anyone who fancies a bit of adventure and the chance to raise money for a good cause,” she said. The 25-strong group was accompanied by Berber tribesmen guides, and a troop of camels carrying their belongings.  Highlights included a camel ride back at camp after a hard days trek, and the huge bags of exotic fruit and nuts supplied at every rest stop.  “Amazingly, our Berber guides dug a fire pit to cook three-course meals every night, starting with traditional green tea and soup, followed by filling dishes of rice, couscous and even fresh bread.  Thankfully we were burning off the calories by trekking up to six hours every day.  “The only downsides were the thousands of flies during the day, and having to put up and take down the tents.  But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” said Janice.