Jamie's Inca trail endurance test, for charity

11:35am Friday 3rd August 2007

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AN energetic ex-army man is set to complete a mammoth 150-mile run across a mountainous South American desert to raise charity cash.

Jamie Ridealgh, 30, said the race will be the "challenge of a lifetime" but one that he is looking forward to.

The married dad-of-one will travel out to San Pedro, Chile, to take part in the annual seven-day Atacama Desert Crossing next week.

He will face cold, dry and windy conditions as he battles through the undulating terrain carrying his own bag, which will weigh more than 35lbs.

Atacama is one of the driest places in the world.

Mr Ridealgh, of Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, said: "I'm not much of a keen runner but this is a challenge that really interests me. I'm looking forward to it but at the same time I am apprehensive because it will be so tough."

The former soldier in the King's Royal Hussars served across the world for seven years before moving back to East Lancashire three years ago.

After working in security he is now about to start a degree course in physiotherapy at the University of Central Lanc-ashire, Preston, in September.

Mr Ridealgh is married to Tracey and they have a six-month-old daughter Marcia.

He added: "I am confident I can do it but I have never done anything like this before."

He has been training for the past seven months by going on long distance runs while carrying weights in his backpack He successfully applied to take part in the race, which has 80 competitors from across the world, and begins on August 14 in Machuca, in the west of the country. It then follows an old Inca Trail, through the Valley of the Moon and Valley of Death - which are locations where NASA tests its Mars rover vehicles.

The finish line is in San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis in the middle of the desert.

Mr Ridealgh is raising cash for Accrington homeless charity Maundy Relief.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor him can send a donation to the charity at 29-31 Abbey Street, Accrington, BB5 1EN.