A grandmother is joining TV presenter Kate Adie for a desert trek to raise cash for charity.

Rhoda Joyce, 57, from Middlewood Road, Lanchester, near Consett, County Durham, is taking part in a 62-mile hike across the Sahara.

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-one will join 29 other people taking part in the event, which aims to raise money for Cancer Bridge, in Hexham, Northumberland.

The charity, which counts Sunderland-born Kate Adie as its vice patron, offers support for cancer sufferers and their carers.

Mrs Joyce decided to take up the challenge after her mother, Sarah Foster, died from a cancer-related illness in April, aged 94.

"For me, it is about closing one door in my life and opening another," she said.

"My mother loved to travel and this trip is in her memory."

Her training programme has seen her cover about 50 miles a week - and wear out a pair of walking boots.

"I got a new pair a couple of weeks ago and am wearing them everywhere to break them in," she said.

"But I have taken in my old ones to have the soles glued back on, so I can take them as a back-up pair. They are my favourites and I felt they had done so much of the training with me that they deserved to come on the trip."

She has paid for the trek with some money left by her mother and has so far been sponsored by more than 170 companies and individuals, including Lanchester Lions and Consett Rotary Club.

In return, she will repay some of the groups with talks about her experience. "That will be a challenge in itself. I am terrified of public speaking," she said.

Mrs Joyce flies out for Morocco this weekend for the week-long expedition.

Anyone wanting to sponsor her should contact (01207) 521674.