A TREE surgeon is preparing to swap the spring blossom for the baking hot sun of the desert as he takes on a mammoth challenge in memory of his mum.

Tim Gardner has been training for more than a year to take on the 2017 Les Marathon des Sables – described as one of the world’s most gruelling challenges.

In just six days he will run 250km over endless desert dunes and white hot sands with the sun blistering down on him at over 50 degrees centigrade.

But it’s all in aid of a good cause. Tim, from Purbeck, is raising money for the GO Girls! Support Group in memory of his mum Helen, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer last year.

The GO Girls! Support people with the condition.

Tim said: “I’ve trained really hard for this event and it has been a tough personal journey for me. Losing my mum so young made me want to do something very special in her memory. She had been a great fan of the GO Girls! and it feels really special to give something back to a cause she was so passionate about. This year I won’t be able to share mother’s day with her and never again, so what a legacy I can give to her.”

“Mum had no choice in going through her painful journey of ovarian cancer – she endured gruelling treatments and endless hospital trips. I had a choice to do this – she didn’t.”

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women. 11 women die every day from the disease. Often the disease is diagnosed very late, offering women lower chances of longer survival.

Hilary Maxwell, chairman of the GO Girls! added: “To have such support from Tim is overwhelming. Tim’s fundraising will go to support our appeal for a Counselling Suite for women with gynaecological cancers as part of the Cancer Appeal at DCHFT. We are asking everyone to dig deep for Tim’s final appeal for funds – it might be that a local company would wish to sponsor Tim for his final £1,000.”

Teresa Wolff, Vice Chair of the GO Girls! added: “With one in two people now affected by cancer, we hope everyone will get behind Tim to spur him in his final fundraising hurdle – all West Dorset residents should be proud of what is being built at Dorset County Hospital – none of us know when we may need to use the Robert White Radiotherapy Centre and Cancer Centre – it’s about our children and our grandchildren – it’s your hospital, your care, your future.”

To send your donations to Tim TEXT TGGO99 £5 to 70070.