As charity challenges go, trekking the world's largest desert may seem rather daring.
But it was a challenge taken up by the head of a radio station in Bolton, who has successfully walked 50km across the Sahara.
Dr Andrew Dickson MBE crossed the famous desert at the age of 76, raising money for Bolton Hospice.
Andrew started the trek on Friday, February 23, setting out with 19 fellow Boltonians, as well as guides to lead them across the Sahara.
Over four days, the clan marched across sand dunes, dried-out riverbeds and mud-built villages in almost 30 degrees heat, with no proper toilets, cooking over campfires and sleeping in tents.
Andrew said: "I have loved the camaraderie, the team, helping each other, the fantastic singing on the bus.
"Being clearly the oldest by 20 years at 76, I have been looked after by the girls who were genuinely interested in my wellbeing and I have found the whole experience to be really emotional.
"I was with a group of people, we became a big team and they looked after me in a way. It was just fantastic.
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"The hospice expected us to raise around £30k, but now it is over £65k, the hospice is absolutely thrilled."
Andrew previously said he was inspired by The Bolton News' Save Bolton Hospice campaign to undertake the task.
He added: "The hardest part for me has been the eating, sitting on the floor and sleeping in a tiny tent on a small mat.
"The food has been amazing from the two cooks cooking in the desert on tiny gas stoves, basic stuff, but hot and flavoursome.
"The longest trek was day two, at 23 kilometres. No blisters or aches for me so all the wearing in of the boots paid off and the non cotton shirts wicked the sweat away.
"We did walk over dunes and that was hard, two steps forward and one back, (and) sliding down the other side.
"I did take a tumble one day, but managed a commando-style forward roll and pretended it hadn’t happened."
The JustGiving page is open for a further two weeks for anyone who would like to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-dickson36
Andrew added: "It last rained in October 2023 and there is a real drought. The High Atlas Mountains have hardly any snow on them and it’s usually the snow melt that creates the rivers.
"They dig wells a hundred metres deep and find nothing, and deeper still they find water but it’s salty!"
On the last night, the group were treated to a Berber dance and song from the camel handlers, cooks and guides, before a long journey back to Marrakech and the comforts of a hotel with real toilets and showers.
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