A BUSINESSMAN will be running two marathons over two days in the searing heat of the Sahara Desert.

Brad Rogers, who owns Brad Rogers Plumbing and Heating in Maldon, will take on the Saharan Challenge to raise funds for Leukaemia Care in October.

The two day challenge sees participants run, jog or walk 26.2 miles on both days across rolling sand dunes and rocky trails in the desert in Morocco, Africa.

Mr Rogers, 36, of St Lawrence, is hoping to raise around £3,000 for the leukaemia charity in memory of his friend Lee Blowers.

This will be his second strenuous fundraiser for the charity, having climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last year, raising £6,000.

He said: “I originally wanted to do the Inca Trail in Peru as my next big fundraiser, but as it’s viewed as a tourist excursion it didn’t get as high interest from charities or sponsors, so I looked into this challenge.

“I started planning it weeks after I arrived back from the trail, I’ve realised through doing these trips that life isn’t all about money, it’s about getting out there and doing some good.

“I aim to be able to jog the distance, it’s going to be hard on my knees but I will be training through cross-fitters and running some more.”

“Anything for the memory of Lee is really important to me.”

In addition to his main fundraising page, Mr Rogers will also be doing in-house collections for Kolby’s Footprints, an Essex based charity which helps bereaved families who have lost young children and babies, at Xtreme Gym in Danbury, which he owns.

The dad-of-two has voiced his desire to support as many people as he can and promote mental health and wellbeing, having previously suffered from depression.

Mr Rogers said: “I really wanted to make Kolby’s Footprints my main charity for the Saharan Challenge, but as they’re not yet officially registered it wasn’t possible.

“Raising money to help leukaemia will of course be fantastic, but I want to be able to help various causes through life, so that’s why we’ll do the in-house stuff in the gym.

“We took it over a few months ago and we’re really trying to make it a place where people can come to not just improve health and fitness but also build up their mental strength and get their heads in the right place.”

Mr Rogers has so far raised more than £250.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bradley-rogers3.