A YOUNG woman will brave running a ultramarathon through the Sahara Desert desert for a cause close to home.

Amy Jackson, a teacher at Hummersknott Academy in Darlington, was gearing up to take on the gruelling a six-day, 251km Marathon Des Sables on April 4 – with nothing more than water, salt tablets and a basic goat hair Berber tent - but the event has now been postponed until September.

Amy's self-confessed "crazy" idea is in aid of a good cause, however, as it raises money for a special little girl who she's dubbed "Amazing Amber".

Amber, who lives in Somerset, is the daughter of Amy's childhood best friend Jenny Kelly, and was diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2016 at the age of three-and-a-half.

After enduring two years of chemotherapy, in August 2018, Amber was able to finally ring the final treatment bell at hospital, only to be in remission for a short couple of months. By December that year, it was back to the drawing board and a new plan was needed to treat her recurring leukaemia.

In 2019, Amber underwent trial treatment at Great Ormond Street, but it was unsuccessful, and this was followed by bone marrow transplant, which was also unsuccessful.

The seven-year-old is currently being considered by doctors for another bone marrow transplant in April.

"Despite everything that Amber has been through, she's still so full-of-life and vivacious. There is always a huge smile on her face for everyone.

"Whilst I know that money can’t buy a magical cure for Amber, I wanted to fundraise to support her quality of life.

"Amber has spent years in and out of hospital, or being isolated, so to not comprise her health.

"She's a passionate little learner and has an appetite for absorbing the world around her and asking a million questions – but she isn't able to do all the activities that a healthy seven-year-old could without support. For example, she wanted to swim in the sea, but couldn't without a special Drysuit which cost £250.

"It has been a dream of hers to go out to a island to see the puffins, but with her immune system being so vulnerable, she has to hire a private boat to keep her away from germs.

"The funds will go towards her to be able to make memories, like any child should be able to do, as well as resources for her home-schooling and physiotherapy for her wasted muscles that limit her ability to walk any distance."

Ms Jackson, who said she "isn't a runner at all" has been preparing and training for the event for 14 months, but said her ultimate aim is to "drag her body to the finish line" by any means that she can and get to the race's check points everyday.

"I'm relying on fear to get me through to the end of the race," said Ms Jackson, "I don't want to let myself or anyone else down."

So far, Ms Jackson has raised £3,661 raised of her £5,000 goal for Amber.

Donations can be made via www.uk.gofundme.com/f/marathon-des-sables-amazing-amber