A RINGWOOD man will compete in ‘the World’s hardest foot race’ next month, running 156 miles in six days across the Sahara.

Olly Campbell, 30, will face scorching, 120-degree heat during the Marathon Des Sables in Morocco, which will see him run 26 miles a day carrying all his own supplies.

He said: “I love travelling and enjoy running, so exploring Morocco this way makes sense to me.

“But more importantly, it’s a chance to really test myself to the maximum.

“It’s going to be brutal but it worth it. Most people are betting me I can’t do it but I’m inviting them to offer a donation and I’ll prove them wrong.”

Olly, a tree surgeon, has been training in the New Forest and more recently in Vietnam to acclimatise to the heat.

He is raising funds for the marathon’s official charity Solidarite to help underprivileged children and their parents in the South of Morocco as well as Patchwork Kids, a local charity founded to provide education to underprivileged, tribal and street children in India and Africa.

Donations can be made at justgiving.com/olly-campbell. For more information visit 2013marathon.co.uk