THE owner of an upcycling shop will be trekking through the Sahara Desert in the hope of raising £2,500 for a hospice.

Eloise Flinter, 35, who runs Deja Vu which is based in the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole, is taking in the 100km challenge a year after the death of her terminally ill father, Mike, who received care at Forest Holme Hospice.

Based in Seldown Road, the hospice provides specialist palliative care to people with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses and must raise £500,000 each year to continue running.

Eloise will be hiking more than 60 miles through sand plains, sand dunes and rocky plateaus over nine days from Friday, October 28.

She said: "Watching first hand the magical love and support provided by every member of the Forest Holme team for every family that walks through their doors needs recognition.

"My father passed away in his own home with his wife by his side, pain free, comfortable, with dignity and with grace, which was made possible by the care offered by Forest Holme.

"The least I can do is help to raise awareness of this beautiful haven for terminally ill patients that is right on our doorstep, and help them to continue giving this incredible level of care by helping to raise funds."

Money raised from the trek will go towards another syringe driver costing around £2,000 to be used by palliative care patients in their own homes to reduce symptoms by delivering a steady flow of injected medication continuously under the skin.

This is the second fundraiser that Eloise has undertaken for Forest Holme Hospice in less than two years.

In August last year, she joined her dad, Mike, and family friend, Ellie Brooks in a sponsored head shave which raised more than £3,000 for the cause. She also donates to the hospice regularly through proceeds from her upcycling business.

For more information and to donate, go to Justgiving.com/Lolly-Flinter