Middlewich family tackles trek across Sahara for hospice

Jo and Dave Helm and son Jack, from Middlewich, are busy training for a three day African camping expedition.

The trio plans to trek 50km across the Sahara Desert in temperatures of up to 35 degrees.

Jo Helm takes her springer spaniels Nevile, Brian and Willow on long walks to prepare for their arduous trek (Image: Jo Helm)

Mum-of-three Jo, 50, said: “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.

“As a family, we’re often out walking our three springer spaniels but this will be hard work.”

They hope to raise vital funds for Cheshire East Hospice and have already won support, with generous donations from the local community.

Dave Helm trekking across the dunes at Formby beach in training for their African expedition (Image: Jo Helm)

“Not long now till our big voyage on November 12, it’s hard to believe how quick it’s come around,” said Jo.

“We’ve done a fair bit of training up down sand dunes at Formby beach.”

Jack Helm leads the family on a trek across the dunes at Formby beach (Image: Jo Helm)

The family has also hiked across hills in the Lake District and is building up their stamina in the gym.

Jo works as a health care assistant at the hospice.

Jo Helm has walked for miles with her springer spaniels to build up stamina for the expedition (Image: Jo Helm)

“I absolutely love my job and the hospice desperately needs funds,” she said.

“I want to help them because I know how amazing they are.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/joanne-helm3

Jack, Dave and Jo Helm hope to raise as much money as possible for East Cheshire Hospice (Image: Jo Helm)

Dave, 52, who served in the Royal Corps Transport, works for the Richmond Fellowship mental health charity.

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/david-helm7

Jack, 20, who works at Screwfix in Northwich, said: “I’m slightly anxious but really looking forward to the challenge and to sleeping under the stars.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/jack-helm1

Jo's springer spaniels Neville, Brian and Willow are helping the family to keep fit by joining them for long walks (Image: Jo Helm)

Jo said: “We’ve got a nine hour bus journey to the desert and then we will be trekking across rough terrain.

“Guides come with us and set up camp as we’re going along and cook all the food, baking bread in the sand.”

Jack, Dave and Jo Helm will be hiking 50km across inhospitable, parched land in the Sahara (Image: Jo Helm)

Camels will accompany them as they hike across inhospitable, parched land.

“It’s not all sand and dunes,” said Jo.

“We’ll be walking across Martian-like terrain in temperatures up to 35 degrees.

“The temperature drops drastically at night and can be as low as minus four.

“I think I’ll drag my sleeping bag out of the tent and sleep under the stars. There is no light pollution whatsoever.”

The trio will spend two days at the end of the trek helping with a community project in Marrakech.

“We will be working in a hospital or place for people with no home,” said Jo. “We will be planting, gardening or anything they need doing.”

The intrepid grandparents are no strangers to daring challenges.

The pair steeled themselves to perch on top of a 1940s Boeing-Stearman biplane.

Jo and Dave Helm after their daring wing walk on top of a 1940s Boeing-Stearman biplane (Image: Jo Helm)

The couple, married for 29 years, completed a wing walk for the hospice last year.

“We are grateful for all the support we can get as it is such a great cause,” said Jo.