A GROUP of fundraisers who braved scorching heat by day and slept under the stars by night have raised more than £12,000 after trekking across the Sahara Desert.

The team of eight people completed the adventure of a lifetime by trekking across the desert in southern Morocco last October, walking up to eight hours a day but raising £12,143 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Temperatures reached more than 30 degrees Celsius and the trekkers were led by local guides while camels carried their supplies.

Valerie Whistler, a teacher at Haydon Wick Primary School, Swindon, and who lives at Coates near Cirencester, was one of the trekkers. Pupils and colleagues at her school helped her raise money for WAA.

She said: “It was my first trek in Morocco and raising money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. It was a truly marvellous experience. It was well organised and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Wiltshire Air Ambulance is absolutely fantastic.”

Alex Moss, of Hilperton, Trowbridge, who took part with his partner Alex Thomsett, said: “It was an awesome experience and we did it with a good bunch of people and it was for a great cause.

“It was well organised and supported and it made fundraising fun. Wiltshire Air Ambulance is essential, anyone of us could need it if we suffer a medical emergency or accident.”

The Sahara Trek was organised by Adventurous Ewe and due to the success of it, WAA will be organising an overseas challenge in 2017.

Rebecca de la Bedoyere, senior fundraising manager at WAA who also took part in the Sahara Trek, said: “Trekking the Sahara was truly the experience of a lifetime.

"Camping out under the stars, climbing the dunes at dawn to watch the sun rise and singing with our Berber guides by the camp fire are all moments that will stay with me for a long time.

“My fellow trekkers were fantastic company and a pleasure to spend time with. I’m so grateful to them for their commitment and efforts.

"Planning is already underway for our next overseas challenge in 2017 and I hope people will be inspired by our amazing Sahara trekkers to take part and help keep our helicopter and crew flying.”