The Toughest Footrace On Earth (as shown on the Discovery Channel) is being attempted by two Whitton brothers in aid of The Shooting Star Chase Children’s hospice in Hampton.

The Marathon Des Sables (MDS) is a multi-stage marathon (six marathons over five days) in one of the world’s most inhospitable environments – the Sahara Desert.

Keith and Colin Haylock will attempt the arduous journey on April 6 2018, running more than 250km (156 miles) through sand dunes, rocks, and across salt plains.

They must be self-sufficient and carry all their own food, sleeping bags and medical kit (including a venom pump).

Temperatures will regularly reach 50 degrees C, they will run out of a Saharan morning, into the dusk and then the dark.

The brothers expect to suffer during the marathon, both from exhaustion and swollen, cracked and bleeding feet, but say it won’t matter because of the importance of the cause.

Shooting Star Chase is a leading children’s hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Whether lives are measured in days, weeks, months or years, the hospice helps to make every moment count completely free of charge.

It offers short breaks at its Hampton hospice, an at home hospice service, day care, symptom management, and a range of therapies.

It also supports families from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

The brothers have set up a just giving website, if you would like to support them, please donate online or at any of the Shooting Star chase shops.