SWINDON AND PROUD: THREE big-hearted Swindon adventurers who have volunteered to be marooned on a deserted island for charity have met their fellow castaways.

Stella Hopkins, Rob Harding and Clare Telling will be taking part in the Anthony Nolan Trust's Island Charity Survival Challenge in September.

They were introduced to the rest of the group who are spending the week with them at an introduction event in Bournemouth.

The group of 14 castaways will spend five days marooned on an uninhabited island off the coast of Dorset where they will be put through a series of challenges by a former Royal Marine.

Each castaway had to raise £800 in sponsorship cash to take part.

Clare, 21, lives in Highworth and works for the Swindon Advertiser in the sales department.

She said: "It was really good to meet everyone who is taking part.

"They all seemed really friendly and were from all different walks of life.

"And they all seemed to have different reasons for volunteering to do the challenge.

"Some of them had been in the army or the Royal Marines before and one person has leukaemia.

"We also met an ex-Royal Marine who will be setting our challenges.

"He told us we will be split into groups and we will make shelters and catch and cook all our food.

"I am very excited and a bit nervous about all the challenges that I will face.

"I am most worried about having to kill and eat animals and not having any toilet paper.

"The best bit will be meeting new people and seeing how far I can push myself because it's going to be a real test.

"My family think I'm a bit crazy because I've never even camped before but they are supporting me."

Rob, 49, who is manager of builders' merchants in Wootton Bassett, and is married to Dawn, 49, with two children Simon, 21 and Matthew, 17, explained why he is taking part.

"I work for a children's youth group called Woodcraft Folk and I get to take part in a lot of camping trips for that.

"I am a very earthy outdoorsy type of person and I love a challenge like this.

"I am looking forward to the whole experience even having to eat bugs.

"It was my wife who suggested I should take part and my whole family is behind me.

"The only thing I'm worried about is how I will survive without a bacon sandwich for a whole week.

"That's something I will find difficult."

Stella, who is also part of the group, is 54 and works for Swindon police.

The challenge will start on September 25.

Anyone who wants to find out more should log onto www.islandchallenge.co.uk

Diana Milne