A Horsforth rambler has been putting in an extra few miles training in recent weeks in preparation for a walk in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia to raise cash for

charity.

Keith Whitham, 52, of West End Lane, is looking forward to the 45-mile walk entitled Trek Arabia, which will raise cash for Barnardo's.

Mr Whitham, a scout leader with the 9th Airedale Horsforth Grove Methodist Scout Group, has plenty of experience to fall back on during his desert challenge to raise £2,000 for Barnardo's.

Although the Yorkshire Dales are not too far away, Mr Whitham is doing most of his training for the walk in Horsforth. "Each morning I do a 25-minute walk from my home to Horsforth Railway Station where I catch the train to Leeds and then I have another 10-minute walk at the other end. This helps to keep me fit although I do walk in the countryside as well," he said.

Mr Whitham said this week that sponsorship money was coming in and a quiz was to be held at Yarnbury RUFC clubhouse on January 15.

The challenge takes place from February 26 to March 6 when the team of 76 adventurers will walk or cycle the Trail of Lawrence of Arabia from Damascus, the capital of Syria.

From Damascus, the walkers will take a 60-year-old steam train on the Hedjas Railway - as seen in the film Lawrence of Arabia - to cross the border into Jordan where the trek begins.

"I am looking forward to the challenge walk," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.