AN adventurous dad is braving scorching 40-degree temperatures in the world’s largest desert this week to raise money for charity.

Simon Pearson, aged 40, of Longsight Road, Harwood, is trekking 160km across the Sahara desert in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Mr Pearson flew to Marrakech in Morocco on Sunday and started from the Atlas Mountains the following day.

The head of programme management at the British Council is no stranger to Africa having been born in Zambia and moved to Ghana at the age of 13.

Ahead of the trip he said: “I used to be quite adventurous before having kids and have been lucky enough to have travelled to and lived in some amazing places.

“This will be the first trek of this kind I have done for about 20 years, and the first ever in a desert.”

As well as battling maximum altitudes of 2,260 metres, Mr Pearson, and a group of up to 15 others, will be sleeping in tents.

The father of two is determined to raise as much money as possible for cancer research following the death of a friend last year from lymphoma. His mother is also suffering from cancer.

He has paid for the trip himself to ensure all money raised goes to the charity.

He added: “I had already planned to do two swims to raise money, and I thought it would be good to tag this on to try to raise even more money. It’s very important to me to raise as much money as possible since I do believe cancer is a beatable disease — we just need more research.

“Last year I raised £1,200 swimming in Salford Quays so I’d really like to get to £2,000 this year.”

Anyone who wants to sponsor Mr Pearson in can visit justgiving/Sahara WindermereSalford