VICKY Glanville, a Marketing Assistant from Exeter, in Devon, has committed herself to a personal challenge that will test her mental strength, and physical stamina, whilst raising vital funds for disabled children across the UK.

The 24-year-old has become the first person in the country to register on the 2016 Caudwell Children Sahara Desert Challenge.

The Psychology graduate, from the University of Kent, couldn’t resist the lure of the arid adventure and says that when dawn breaks over the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, on February 11 2016, to reveal a parched Sahara landscape, she will be fully prepared for the challenge ahead.

Caudwell Children, the national charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families, has organised the six day fundraising trek to help the charity deliver specialist equipment, treatments, therapies and short breaks to the 770,000 disabled children in the UK.

Vicky admits to having some anxieties about the challenge but says that she is determined to complete the potentially arduous trek. She said: “Yes I’m worried about walking in the heat of the day, and I’m not looking forward to the bitterly cold evenings, but I’ve always wanted to do a once-in-a-lifetime challenge that would stretch me, and put me outside my comfort zone, and this is definitely that challenge.”

The former Exeter School pupil said she had discussed undertaking such a trek with a friend the day before seeing a Facebook post advertising the challenge: “I couldn’t believe it,” she explained. “It was extraordinary timing. The very day after I had been talking about trekking, there it was on my computer, in front of me! It was amazing!”

Having paid out £175 to register on the event, Vicky now has a year to raise the necessary £1,700 fundraising target, though she is determined to exceed that amount. She continued: “Obviously I’ll be encouraging friends, family and my local community to sponsor me but I’ll also be organising a bag pack in the local supermarket. I also intend to have a fundraising pub quiz night and other fundraising events.

“I want to smash the target as I’m fully aware of the fantastic work that Caudwell Children does. I volunteered for them in the South West, last summer, and have seen at close hand the many benefits that their specialist equipment, therapies, treatments, short breaks and dream holiday to Florida have on disabled children and their families. ”

Vicky, intends to step up her training over the next 12 months, although she believes that she is in reasonable shape for the challenge ahead: “In my spare time I regularly horse ride and I recently joined a cheerleading class. I also run occasionally, but I’m looking to do a few long walks on Dartmoor, which is close to where I live, which should get me attuned to the trekking mentality!”

Having worked at a horse riding summer camp in New Hampshire, USA, for the last five years, as an Au-Pair in Turkey and Australia, and on a horse farm in South Africa in the past, Vicky believes that her love of travel will stand her in good stead for the challenge ahead. “I’ve become used to different environments and climates since catching the travel bug. But I love it! I can’t wait; all I have do now is raise the cash!”