Two newspaper executives have a week of heat and exhaustion ahead as they strive to raise thousands of pounds for a hospice.

Bill Martin and Pete Holdgate, from The Herald in Plymouth, are now in the Namibian desert after months of training for a 120km ultra-marathon.

And supporters will be able to follow the duo's progress via a dedicated blog which they will be writing as their journey progresses.

Herald editor Bill said: "The unrelenting heat of the day and the huge drop in temperature at night is going to be just one of the considerations we will have to take into account when planning what to wear during the run.

"We have also planned to consume a huge amount of calories to keep us going but I don’t think a Weight Watchers visit will be required when we get back."

The race takes place along Namibia's Skeleton Coast and the pair will have to be completely self-sufficient in temperatures ranging from five to 35 degrees Celsius.

Bill and Pete have already raised £3,110 for St Luke's Hospice which serves the whole of Plymouth, south-east Cornwall and south-west Devon.

Executive picture editor Pete, who is a former Royal Navy photographer, added: "Our preparation has been long and at times rather time consuming.

"Obviously, the only way to prepare for a race such as this is to put the extreme distances in with treks of 25, 35, 45 and 55 miles.

"The only drawback was to have to train in such hideous weather through the long winter, including floods around Denbury and blizzards across the moor.

"As long as you are training for a reason and you have a purpose it's easier to motivate yourself when your muscles ache, you’re soaked to the skin and freezing cold – unfortunately not the conditions we are likely to encounter in Africa."

Visit Bill and Pete's online blog to follow their progress and sponsor their efforts.

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